Music
Imaginary City
Written and performed by Sō Percussion
In even the most forgotten corners and forsaken shadows, the
city seethes with life, splayed out in a symphony of sensations. In
Imaginary City, New York's powerhouse percussion ensemble
Sō Percussion immerses itself in everyday urban experiences,
offering a multifaceted meditation on American cities.
Inspired by Italo Calvino's ebullient descriptions of urban
environments in his novel Invisible Cities, the four
members of Sō Percussion-all extraordinary musicians and
composers-join video artist Jenise Treuting and director Rinde
Eckert to give voice to the evanescent beauty of the metropolis.
Homespun sampling techniques harmonize with found objects cum
instruments, illuminating the patterns of urban life and turning
the concrete jungle into a cauldron of sensory experience.
Video by Jenise Treuting
Directed by Rinde Eckert
Lighting design by Aaron Copp
Sound design by Lawson White
Imaginary City was commissioned by BAM for the 2009 Next Wave
Festival as part of a National Performance Network Creation Fund
Project in consortium with The Myrna Loy Center/Helena Presents in
partnership with Diverseworks Art Space, The Flynn Center for the
Performing Arts, The Cleveland Museum of Art, and The Newman Center
for the Performing Arts.
Production Development at The Alexander Kasser Theater, Peak
Performances @ Montclair State University