The Lightbulb Ensemble (LBE) is a composers collective that champions
experimental music, instrument building, and contemporary gamelan. The
ensemble emerged from the culture of new music at Mills College (several
players are Mills graduates) and the longstanding cross-cultural artistic
exchange of Gamelan Sekar Jaya. LBE performs on steel metallophones, wooden
marimbas, and other instruments designed, tuned, and built by Brian
Baumbusch, the ensemble's founder and director. LBE is cross-cultural in a
musical sense as well: The ensemble utilizes techniques, textures, and
concepts that fuse – and at times contrast with – Balinese and Western
new-music traditions. Performing only new repertoire, the group presents
in-house compositions and collaborates with other artists of the new music
community, including the Paul Dresher Ensemble, the Jack Quartet, and The
Center for Contemporary Music.
Cost: FREE