Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Alarm Will Sound Plays 10,000 Birds

10,000 Birds 6

So after the symphony on Sunday afternoon we got a bite to eat in the Grand Centre district, then walked down to the new Public Media Commons. The contemporary music ensemble Alarm Will Sound gave a performance of John Luther Adams' new work 10,000 Birds. Adams was awarded the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for music.
               
The piece has been described as:

based on the songs of birds native to Missouri and the western limit of the eastern hardwood forest, [it] will fully embrace the orchestral range of colors in the instrumentation of Alarm Will Sound. . . Each page in the score will be its own self-contained world that occupies its own physical space and its own time. Each of these pages/places can be performed for an indefinite duration. They can be combined, simultaneously and sequentially, in varied ways.
It was ethereal. The performers carried small digital stopwatches and received cues on their iPhones as they wandered around the plaza. More to come.

10,000 Birds11

10,000 Birds 10

7 comments:

Halcyon said...

Wow! I can only imagine how beautiful this must have been. I'm going to see if I can find a recording on youtube or something for a little listen. :)

Birdman said...

What fun this event must have been. I like your night shots as well as your commentary.

Luis Gomez said...

Sounds like a beautiful event in a great space Bob.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

What an exquisite evening it would have been Bob.. has young Madeleine been introduced to the joys of music yet?

cieldequimper said...

Oh my goodness I'm jealous. And the first portrait is fantastic.

I emailed you, I hope you received it.

William Kendall said...

Performers moving about is something you wouldn't expect, but contemporary compositions might be suitable for that. Terrific shots, Bob!

Stefan Jansson said...

A great event I'm sure.