Composer Portraits Series: Music of Conlon Nancarrow Performed by Alarm Will Sound

One of the great American iconoclasts of 20th-century music, Conlon Nancarrow composed music that was often so complex, so rhythmically intricate, and intended to be played so fast that he finally figured no mere mortals would ever be able to give it justice. After years haggling with live performers in Boston, he moved to Mexico City in 1940 and started writing for something he could count on: a machine. For the last half-century of his life, Nancarrow wrote rousing scores for the player piano. The acclaimed 20-member contemporary ensemble Alarm Will Sound apparently thinks Nancarrow pooped out too soon with live performers. The talented troupe comes to Boston with a program of Nancarrow’s music specially arranged for performance by various instrumental combinations — yes, played live.

KAREN CAMPBELL