Bang on a Can Marathon

This collective—led by composers Michael Gordon, David Lang and Julia Wolfe—brings its annual free festival back to Brookfield Place for eight hours of contemporary works. Since the styles on offer vary widely—occasionally straying well beyond the postminimalism for which the event's founders are known—there's virtue in showing up early and discovering some of the lesser-known names. But if you have to pick a segment, the 4–8pm window is set to feature (deep breath): Dawn of Midi's acoustic-IDM complexity (which is also pretty danceable); the vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth's performance of selections from Caroline Shaw's Pulitzer-winning Partita for 8 Voices; a performance of composer Andrew Norman's exciting chamber-orchestra work Try; new interpretations of Julius Eastman piano works directed by Jace Clayton (aka DJ/rupture)—plus two mini sets in which Meredith Monk will perform selections from different stage pieces (in partnership with her close collaborator, Theo Bleckmann). And, once you're there, you might well stay for the last couple hours—which will include music by Gordon, Louis Andriessen and the National's Bryce Dessner.