What with the frenetic activities of last month beginning to wind down (last night I submitted a new piece with minutes to spare, but only because I’m currently on Central time), it looks as if I may have time to post actual blog entries from time to time.
I’ve been thinking about the past couple of shows I was involved in (the Shy and Mighty release and the two Metropolis Ensemble concerts), and I have to say, they were some of the most artistically and professionally satisfying experiences I’ve had in my life. I think this was partly because they were truly collaborative—composer, performers, and presenters all with fresh and ambitious ideas about what we do.
That said, the following video of Metropolis Ensemble performing at Trinity Wall St. is maybe not the most exciting thing to watch, but the performances themselves are top-notch. This was our “trial run” before that evening’s show at Angel Orensanz. The music doesn‘t start until about five minutes in; there‘s some pontificating (we’re talking about a giant cathedral, after all, pontification is the mandate). Thereafter, the program is my Paraphrase on Themes of Brian Eno; Andrew Norman’s Grand Turismo; Anna Clyne’s Within Her Arms; and finally Home Stretch.