The latest episode of my radio art series "The Long Play" is online now at Mixcloud!
Also, just a reminder that I will be playing in the Nakatani Gong Orchestra tomorrow evening at The Music Gallery here in Toronto:
The Music Gallery presents
TATSUYA NAKATANI GONG ORCHESTRA
https://youtu.be/Staiqpm4bq8Saturday May 26 2018
The Music Gallery at 918 Bathurst St.
Doors: 7:30PM | Concert: 8PM
$20 Regular
$15 Advance
$10 Students/Members at
musicgallery.orgPLUS
Deep Listening Intensive
featuring Anne Bourne, 3PM
In recent years, the Music Gallery has devoted more time and resources to the presentation of adventurous, participatory musical systems. We have seen scores of local musicians from all walks of life learn from the masterful musical concepts of the likes of Pauline Oliveros, Adam Rudolph, Roscoe Mitchell and Katy Payne. We continue this sensibility here in presenting NGO, Tatsuya Nakatani’s Gong Orchestra (NGO), a contemporary live sound art project that tours throughout North and Central America.
Osaka-born, New Mexico-based Nakatani began germinating ideas for NGO in early 2002, and finally took the project on the road in April 2011. NGO is a continuous, growing community engagement project; and the only bowing gong orchestra in existence in the world today. The rich harmonies produced from multiple layers of bowed gongs are transformative, engaging and inspiring for both players and audiences.
As per Nakatani’s instructions, the Music Gallery curates an ensemble of local players to play his gongs, bows and other instrumentation that travel with him from town to town. We've contacted a wide range of local musicians and artists to create a one-of-a-kind ensemble:
Artist, filmmaker and author Brenda Joy Lem
Katie Jensen (Baby Cages, Feast In The East, Polaris Prize podcast)
Sound artist Debashis Sinha
"Song farmer" Charlotte Cornfield (Burdock booker)
Rupert Ojiji Harvey (founder of Messenjah and Crack of Dawn)
Kristyn Gelfand (Maracatu Mar Aberto)
Filipina-Canadian MC extraordinaire HanHan
Alex Punzalan (DATU)
W. A. Davison (Recordism)
Tréson (The Human Rights)
Graphic designer/musician Jenn Kitagawa (Eyeballs)
Bryan W. Bray (Gates/Cetacea)
Laura C. Bates (Volur)
Raphael Roter (Asiko Afrobeat Ensemble)
On the day of the concert, Nakatani conducts a specialized training workshop to these players in preparation for the performance. Players experience Nakatani’s unique point of view regarding gong techniques, and learn to work with the immersive vibrations of these special instruments. With as many as 14 gongs in play at any one time, the walls and ceiling of 918 Bathurst will shimmer with beautiful resonances and community feeling.
Nakatani performs a solo set to open the evening, then returns to conduct his own compositions for the group performance.
This event is sponsored by Spirit of Math
Deep Listening Intensive with Anne Bourne, 3PM
This day begins by opening the airy, light-filled environs of 918 Bathurst’s Sun Room to the public for a springtime celebration and/or contemplation. Anne Bourne returns to conduct the second Deep Listening Intensive or our season: she will lead participants in experiential listening meditations and sounding pieces composed by the late Pauline Oliveros. This is a FREE event, no ticket purchase or reservation is required.
918 Bathurst is not currently wheelchair accessible due stairs (two half flights to enter the performance space, and one flight to access the washrooms). We are working as quickly as possible with 918 Bathurst to make the building accessible for all.
~~~~~
- W.A.Davison
www.recordism.com
