An [Untitled] Experiment
by Joseph Drew
The last time I saw ComplineNYC perform, it was at St. John the Divine in a very formal setting [Not quite what I had in mind when Oliver first described the project to me last summer]. It was a beautiful performance of beautiful music, but the whole thing felt more formal than I'd imagined it would.
Several months later, I was delighted to see Compline deep into a residency just off Central Park. The vibe was very laid back, and though the formalized aspects of the service are inescapable, the presentation allowed for the audience to relax and just enjoy the sound, if they wanted to.
The singers' generosity towards Johnny Chang's music was another delight. Johnny and I came to add some instrumental parts to the service, but Johnny had also brought one of his scores for everyone to perform. It was an untitled experiment in ensemble playing, where the performers were to respond to the sounds they were hearing. I was touched by how everyone dug in to the challenges of Johnny's piece, and less than a half hour after seeing the score, we were all performing it together.
That collaborative spirit is at the heart of the ANALOG collective, and as thrilling as it was to see Compline so far along in its development, it was just as exciting to see the Compline singers open their arms to Johnny and I and so graciously and effortlessly incorporate us into their service.
I can't wait to go back.
[Ed’s note: In addition to being a trumpeter and composer, Joe is also the Artistic Director of ANALOG arts ensemble, the arts collective of which ComplineNYC is a member.]
Wednesday, January 31, 2007