The compositions of John Cage showcased in rare live performance at Seabury Hall.

Ebb & Flow Arts presents a free concert by Pianist Adam Tendler who will perform John Cage’s Sonatas and Interludes for prepared piano on Saturday, June 28, at the Seabury Hall Performing Arts Studio.

Sonatas and Interludes, a collection of 20 pieces for prepared piano by American avant-garde composer John Cage (1912–1992), is widely regarded as one of Cage’s finest achievements. A pioneer of chance music, electronic music and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde and—in the opinion of many—the most influential American composer of the 20th century.

In order to play these compositions, Tendler must prepare 45 notes on the grand piano using screws, various types of bolts, pieces of rubber, plastic, several nuts and one eraser. It takes up to three hours to prepare the piano for performance.

Tendler is a young American pianist from Vermont who is recognized for his musical sensitivity, daring, ambition and advocacy. His work has been described as beautiful, expressive, authentic and communicative. “I’ve lamented the lack of idealistic young musicians intent on art,” said Verne Windham, program director of a Washington radio station. “Adam was a pleasant surprise.”

At 26, Tendler has already collaborated with some of the world’s most influential musicians. In 2003, he graduated early with distinction from Indiana University School of Music to begin co-authoring a second edition of The History of American Classical Music by John Warthen Struble and Philip Glass. The book led to the conception of “America 88x50,” Tendler’s headline-grabbing piano recital tour project in which he lived out of his car for a year and independently teamed with arts organizations in all 50 states to perform free concerts of modern American music for underserved communities. Ebb & Flow Arts provided Tendler the Hawai‘i portion of the tour on Maui in October 2005 at Studio Maluhia.

The show starts at 7:30 p.m. with a pre-concert discussion and demonstration of prepared piano from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Ebb & Flow Arts multimedia group—Dancer Lisa Gagnon, Visual Artist Tony Walholm and Stage and Lighting Designer Todd van Amburgh—will enhance the production.

Seabury Hall is located at 480 Olinda Road in Makawao. For more information, visit www.ebbandflowarts.org, www.america88x50.com, or call 876-1854.