At the Paula Cooper Gallery for MATA’s 20^th birthday celebration, Mexican percussionist Diego Espinosa faced the challenge of performing a 1967 work by Philip Glass, with the world-class composer seated several feet away. Instrument: an ordinary caterer’s foldup table. Soon in the cathedral style space, the sound of rhythmic scratching rose to the skylights. The piece, “1 x 1,” had been created on a kitchen table, Espinosa explained later, and he memorized the notes, applying them freely. Crouching down, he added the metal of the table’s spindly legs to the act, improvising on every surface. If a definition of “new music” were needed to kick off MATA’s week of experimental music concerts, this opening performance illuminates.

Founders of MATA (Music of the Anthology) in 1996, Philip Glass, Eleonor Sandresky, and Lisa Bielawa attended the gala and heard Espinosa, Nadar Lev on guitar, and Joshua Modney on violin perform their compositions as a tribute to their efforts. MATA’s mission has been to support and commission the music of early career composers and sound artists no matter how far out their work. Rounding out the evening, Alexander Bruck Santos performed Samuel Cedillo’s “Monologo III” on viola. In the next few days, concerts will move to The Kitchen, Qubit Space, and on April 21, to a swimming pool, AQUA at Imagine Swimming. Yes, a swimming pool.

Regina Weinreich

Graphic Design: Salpeter Ventura