Inuksuit - Chicago 2012

Inuksuit (Aug 26, Chicago) - Call for Musicians

Dear Friends,

We are excited to invite you to be a part of an incredibly exciting project this summer. On August 26th, 2012 eighth blackbird, New Music Chicago, and a consort of percussionists and musicians from around the Midwest (and the country) will come together in downtown Chicago’s Millennium Park to offer a free, open-air performance of John Luther Adams’ landmark work Inuksuit. 

It will mark the Midwestern premiere of the piece and will be featured on Millennium Park’s new Loops & Variations concert series. The 99+ performer ‘musical happening’ is sure to attract local and potentially national media attention, and offers the chance to perform with some of the best percussionists and musicians living and working today.

We would like you to join us.

ABOUT THE MUSIC

A work scored for “nine to ninety-nine percussionists,” intended to be played outdoors, Inuksuit is designed to heighten our awareness of the sights and sounds that surround us every day and to energize our experience of our own environment. It is written for an incredible array of instruments: conch shells, airhorns, sirens, gongs, bells, maracas, drums, cymbals, and toy pianos. This concert will mark the first performance of the work in Chicago, [and the first rendition of the piece (which was first played in the forests of Banff, Canada) in a densely populated urban setting.] 

ABOUT NEW MUSIC CHICAGO, EIGHTH BLACKBIRD AND DOUG PERKINS

Established in 2005, New Music Chicago includes over 20 organizations and individuals creating, performing and presenting new music. The goal of New Music Chicago is to expand the audience for contemporary art music and foster more opportunities for its engagement. Volunteer led and run, NMC hosts best practices meetings, social events, collaborative concerts and produces a calendar where all new music events can be seen on one place. 

eighth blackbird is a Chicago-based, two-time Grammy Award-winning sextet that combines the finesse of a string quartet with the energy of a rock band and the audacity of a storefront theater company. Its musical aerobatics delight, provoke and entertain audiences around the world.  Now in its 16th year, eighth blackbird annually performs in 80-100 public and classroom engagements, outreach activities, workshops, and lecture-performances nationally and internationally. The group holds long-term residencies at the University of Chicago, Curtis Institute of Music, and the University of Richmond.

Hailed as a “percussion virtuoso” by the New York Times, Doug Perkins is active as a chamber musician, soloist, producer, and conductor.  He founded So Percussion, the Meehan/ Perkins Duo and performs regularly with groups such as the International Contemporary Ensemble, Signal,  Camerata Pacifica, and eighth blackbird.  Doug is responsible for Directing the first ever 99 person performance of Inuksuit as well as the two productions in NYC at the Park Avenue Armory and Morningside Park.  These, along with his production of Xenakis’ Persephassa in Central Park Lake,  were named Top Ten Performances in 2010 and 2011 by the New Yorker, New York Magazine, and Time Out NY.  As an educator, Doug is on the music faculty at Dartmouth College, Director of the Chosen Vale International Percussion Seminar, and Artist-in-Residence with eighth blackbird at the University of Chicago.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Wednesday August 16, 2012

6pm-8pm Inuksuit happy hour: drinks and tutorials at  the eighth blackbird studio in Ravenswood, Chicago, IL.

Saturday August 25, 2012

11am-1pm Chicago load in and setup, location TBD

1pm-5pm Chicago Rehearsal, location TBD

Sunday August 26, 2012            

9am-11am Load in and setup at Pritzker Pavillion

11am- 1:30   Pritzker Pavillion rehearsal 

3pm-4:30pm   run through in concert positions in the Park

5:30pm         public performance in Millennium Park  

PERCUSSION/ BRASS/ CONCH EXPERIENCE 

While no percussion or brass performance experience is required, know that we will expect all performers to be comfortable using a variety of percussion gear and/ or conch shells. Note that the above schedule includes a 2 hour “drinks and tutorials” session the week before the performance. Performers who are not principally percussion/ brass players are encouraged to attend this session as it will be a low key and (hopefully) fun chance to brush up on the instrument you’ll be playing. Doug Perkins and Matthew Duvall (eighth blackbird percussionist) will be on hand to coach/ answer any questions you may have. 

PICCOLO PLAYERS

The piece also specifically calls for a number of piccolo players. If you’d like perform and are principally a flute and/ or piccolo player you will only be expected to attend the day of (Aug. 26th) rehearsal at Millenium Park directly prior to the concert.

LOGISTICS & COST        

This is an ambitious undertaking, and we need your partnership to make it a success. We are asking participating musicians/schools to provide their own instruments (Doug can provide details). If necessary, eighth blackbird can provide safe storage for your instruments/ equipment the night of the 25th. Participants will also need to cover transportation and lodging costs. You might want to reach out to Chicago area friends/ musicians/ alumni to ask for their help in housing performers. eighth blackbird will provide lunch at the Saturday rehearsal and dinner at the Sunday performance. Other meals are on your own. We’ll be in touch with more specific parking details shortly.

DEADLINES 

If you are interested in participating, please contact Doug Perkins (percussionist and Music Director, perkinsdf at gmail com) no later than June 1st.

Please include the following information:

• Your Name (as you would like to be billed)
• Ensemble Affiliation (if you regularly perform as a member of an ensemble)
• Percussion/ Conch/ Piccolo experience (what kind of percussion and/ or brass experience do you have? Ever played a conch shell? Is flute/ piccolo your principle instrument?) 

We look forward to hearing from you soon, and to you joining us for what is sure to be a monumental experience.

Sincerely,

Jen Richards

Managing Director, eighth blackbird

President, New Music Chicago

Douglas Perkins

Percussionist & Music Director