before and after nature
words and music by David Lang
video and projections by Tal Rosner
performed by the Bang on a Can All-Stars with SATB chorus
duration: 60 minutes

Lead Commissioner: Stanford Live and LA Master Chorale
premiere TBD fall 2025
We are currently seeking additional commissioning support for interested presenters and/or ensembles

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Based very loosely on things I have thought about after reading the books ‘The End of Nature’ by Bill McKibben, ‘After Nature’ by Jedidiah Purdy, and ‘The Revolt Against Humanity’ by Adam Kirsch, my piece will look at different ways to define and understand nature, now that it has been forever changed by human behavior.

The piece will be composed for SATB chorus and the Bang on a Can All-Stars, with music and text by me, and it will have video and projections by Tal Rosner.  It is meant to be a complete evening in itself and it will last approximately 60 minutes.

— David Lang

Production
Performed by Bang on a Can All-Stars amplified sextet (cl,vc,cb,egtr,pno/keyb,perc) + SATB Choir + video projection and lighting. All instruments and voices will be amplified. Detailed audio, video, and lighting specifications will follow when the work has been created. Production will require a standard single day schedule: morning load-in/setup, afternoon rehearsal, evening performance. Choirs may range in size, but a 24-voice chorus is optimal; larger choirs of 28-40 are welcome.

Travel
Touring company of nine: 6 musicians, 1 sound engineer, 1 video/lighting supervisor, and 1 tour manager. Composer David Lang will travel for premieres and recordings. Minimum 10 r/t airfare for 9 Company members, plus 1 cello.

Artist and creative director Tal Rosner works closely with musicians, theatre makers and fashion brands – combining multiple layers of sound and visuals to create video installations and live performances.

The scope of his output covers a uniquely wide spectrum: from world leading orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, via rock and pop legends Rolling Stones and the Commonwealth Games, to leading fashion houses Louis Vuitton and Marni. His musical eye has earned him a spotlight on the international stage for video design, as well as critical acclaim for his distinctive approach to rhythm and color.

David Lang is one of the most highly esteemed and performed American composers writing today. His works have been performed around the world in most of the great concert halls.

Lang’s simple song #3, written as part of his score for Paolo Sorrentino’s acclaimed film YOUTH, received awards nominations for Best Original Song including the Academy Award and Golden Globe. Lang’s 2007 work, the little match girl passion, won the Pulitzer Prize for Music.

Bang on a Can All-Stars are recognized worldwide for their ultra-dynamic live performances and recordings of today’s most innovative music. Freely crossing the boundaries between classical, jazz, rock, world and experimental this six-member amplified ensemble has consistently forged a distinct category-defying identity, taking music into uncharted territories.