William Basinski: The Garden of Brokenness

William Basinski Adam Tendler, piano Joseph Vasconi, piano Stephen Drury, piano Samuel Solomon, percussion Luis Herrera Albertazzi, percussion A.J. Weissbard, light and space designer

As part of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Creation Festival, composer William Basinski brings the American premiere of his deeply introspective "lamentation," The Garden of Brokenness, to Arrow Street Arts on the 20th anniversary of its recorded release, following last season's world premiere at the Venice Biennale. Widely acclaimed for his epic, groundbreaking and haunting works for tape and electronics — including the seminal The Disintegration Loops—Basinski's works explore themes of loss, memory, time and transcendence through a meditative sonic language. The Garden of Brokenness reflects on humanity’s separation from the divine—an evocation of the lost garden and a longing for what we were created to be. Originally an electronic work using piano tape loops that Basinski recorded in 1979, this rare, live realization of The Garden of Brokenness will be performed by Basinski himself, joined by longtime collaborators pianist Adam Tendler and light and space designer A.J. Wessbard, in addition to an ensemble of BSO percussionists and pianists, transforming Arrow Street Arts into a resonant atmosphere, a "garden" itself, enveloping the audience in the music’s world of space, decay, and quiet renewal. The result is an unforgettable and immersive experience that aligns with The Creation Festival’s exploration of creation, fragility, and the possibility of restoration.

Event Seating

The Garden of Brokenness, part of the BSO's Creation Festival, is a reflective work and a lamentation. Basinski created it to be experienced as a sound and art installation, not a traditional concert. With that in mind, the artists made the following seating requests:

The majority of seating will be on seat cushions on the floor, not in traditional chairs.
Some seating will also be on platform benches.
There will be a limited number of traditional chairs available.
For those who prefer to stand, there will be standing room around the edges.
While all ticket holders are guaranteed a space, the seating styles listed above will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Wheelchair accessible spaces will also be available.