Endangered
A music theatre ritual in honor of earth’s imperiled flora and fauna that mingles music, dance, spoken word, and projected imagery into a seamless, singular environment.
New Music Works Ensemble and guest mezzo-soprano Marie Bafus perform earth-friendly scores by John Cage, (the late and local) Lou Harrison, and Frederic Rzewski, along with world premieres by local composers Phil Collins, David Cope, Peter Elsea.
Tandy Beal brings her unique choreographic gifts to Endangered, and will also perform as the evening’s orator of naturalist verse, ancient odes, and other texts. Ms. Beal and other performers will perform among life-size projections of animals and plants, as captured by locally-based nature photographer, Kennan Ward.
Recordings of frogs, and amplified cactus quills, juxtaposed with live voices and instruments, are woven into a seamless tapestry of sight and sound.
Among the numerous premieres will be a new dance by Ms. Beal, set to a field recording of Sumatran Cecak Rawa birds.
New Music Works Ensemble
Artistic Director and Conductor, Phil Collins
Guest Artists: Tandy Beal, choreographer and speaker;
photography, Kennan Ward; mezzo-soprano Marie Bafus
(Sponsored by UCSC Music Board, part of April in Santa Cruz)
PROGRAM
Field recording Duets and Choruses (Cecak Rawa birds)
recorded in Sumatra by Jack Body
John Cage - Child of Tree, amplified cactus quills
Phil Collins - Requies Ranarum (frog requiem) (2001) soprano,
NMW Ensemble, field recordings of frogs from throughout the world
David Cope - Endangered Species for NMW Ensemble and tape (world premiere)
Peter Elsea - Poseidon’s Tears (world premiere) cello, interactive electronic media
Lou Harrison - Songs in the Forest (1951-1992) speaker and mixed quartet
Frederic Rzewski - To the Earth percussion./speaker; upturned ceramic flower pots
Cost: $10 General, $8 Seniors, $6 Students