Composer

:

Don Byron

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Chamber Music

Average_duration

:

6:07

Basquiat is a jazz composition by Don Byron, inspired by the life and work of the late artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. The piece was composed in 1992 and premiered at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in the same year. The composition is divided into four movements, each of which reflects a different aspect of Basquiat's life and art. The first movement, titled "Graffiti," is a nod to Basquiat's early days as a street artist in New York City. The music is fast-paced and chaotic, with a sense of urgency that reflects the energy of the city streets. The second movement, "SAMO©," is named after the tagline that Basquiat used in his early graffiti work. The music is more introspective and reflective, with a slower tempo and a more contemplative mood. The third movement, "Exquisite Corpse," is named after a collaborative drawing game that Basquiat played with other artists. The music is more experimental and avant-garde, with dissonant harmonies and unexpected shifts in tempo and rhythm. The final movement, "Obituary," is a tribute to Basquiat's untimely death at the age of 27. The music is mournful and elegiac, with a sense of loss and sadness that reflects the tragedy of his passing. Overall, Basquiat is a powerful and evocative tribute to one of the most important artists of the 20th century. Don Byron's composition captures the spirit and energy of Basquiat's life and work, while also exploring the deeper themes and emotions that underlie his art.

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