Midweek Music Pick: Rap And Classical's Uneasy Marriage

Published May 18, 2010 at 10:00 p.m.

Fortunately, "Blues for Black Hoodies," which will receive its Midwestern premiere this Wednesday, is a better piece of music. Some of the lyrics still haven't graduated high school, but the piece is more integrated, particularly the beginning and ending portions. Here the slowly-flowing, barely-evolving strings intertwine with sampled sounds and a spacey beat to give a somber, ethereal wrap to rapper Wordisbon's baritone. As with "Urban Legends," the rapper is recorded rather than appearing live, an omission that does nothing to dispel any elitist notions about classical music concerts, but the musical product achieves coherent integration. It isn't a mix-and-match grab bag; it's something new and worthy.

The other pieces on Wednesday's concert will also be electronics-dependent, from one end of the spectrum, with three pieces that use electronic instruments or recorded sounds, to the other end of the spectrum, with a piece that uses computer software to translate the live movements of composer Christopher Burns into a visual display and music. The Chicago Fluxus Ensemble will also be on hand to perform George Brecht's "For a drummer." As usual, Fulcrum Point is on the cutting edge, and these pieces represent an American premiere, a Midwestern premiere (in addition to Woolf's piece), and a Chicago premiere.

Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph, $30, $15 seniors and students

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