The Crossing
alternate communications through ecstatic group improvisation
Text by Erik Ehn
performed in 4 uninterrupted movements
The Clearing
The Setting
The Offering
The Crossing
The Crossing creates a new form of ecstatic group improvisation through investigating ancient Asian musical genres, such as Japanese Gagaku and Korean ritual music. The piece was created through a period of deep development through improvisation and playing. For the past year, this group met consistently to find it’s own unique sound and group communication. It is consistently developing and changing with each meeting but the goal, to reach a state of communication with another world, remains the same.
“I am interested in creating an environment where work can be created in a collaborative group manner. In the past I’ve worked with various dance and theater companies and always loved the way they created work. Although there was a choreographer or director, the work was built in a group effort by investigating the creativity, virtuosity as well as deficiencies of the people performing the work. It seemed much more exciting and personal than the traditional (sometimes sterile) composer/ensemble relationship.”
This project allows the performers and audience the opportunity to investigate what a “spirit world” means to them. This could be achieved through connecting or remembering ancestors, engaging in meditation/prayer, or allowing the body to physically move as the music takes it.