YARMOUTH — A website run by resident Vinny Fuerst has made its first foray into the physical world.

The first of what Fuerst hopes will be the semi-annual Yarmouth Contemporary Music Days will begin Thursday, Oct. 28, and run through the weekend.

The festival, made possible by a grant from Yarmouth Arts, will include a variety of events, beginning with a book-club-like music talk Thursday evening. Fuerst said he plans to bring a selection of contemporary music by modern composers, all of whom can be found on his contemporary music nexus website, pytheasmusic.org, and play each selection so the attendees can react and discuss what they hear.

“They’ll be listening to things they’ve never heard before,” he said. “We’re trying to make contemporary music accessible for everyone.”

Friday evening at 7:30 p.m., Fuerst will present musical excerpts from modern and old films, and facilitate a discussion of how the music affects the mood and influences the viewer’s perception of the experience.

Fuerst said he will show classics, such as the famous “Jaws” theme by John Williams, and less well-known films, such as the 1982 art film, “Koyaanisqatsi,” with music by Phillip Glass.

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Saturday, Oct. 30, at 2 p.m., the festival will host 10 contemporary composers, many from Maine, who will each perform or have performed a 10-minute work. There will be works for magnetic tape and flute, compositions that involve dancers, and even a more traditional cello sonata.

Then, to end the festival, Sunday afternoon in the Yarmouth High School art room, a group of visual artists will paint and draw while contemporary music is played for inspiration. Fuerst recently teamed up with several Yarmouth school art teachers and had their students create visual art to go with the music. The students’ creations will also be on display during the performance.

“It’s pretty exciting,” Fuerst said. “We’re hoping to do it again in May or June.”

All performances and events are free and open to the public.

More information on the festival is available on the festival website: pytheasmusic.org/ycmd.html.

Emily Parkhurst can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 125 or eparkhurst@theforecaster.net


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