PIFA: Wave upon Wave
Wave upon Wave is a concert program featuring composer Gene Coleman and Ensemble N_JP that explores the cyclical waves of influence between Western and Japanese culture. The concert features two new music video works by Gene Coleman and PIFA (Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts).
Expressing a story of how the city of Kyoto was transformed by globalization, the music video Kyoto In Ex incorporates architecture, dance for camera, music and text in both Japanese and English. The work scored for an ensemble of Japanese Gagaku and Western instruments, plus live electronics and video directed by Gene Coleman. The dance sequences feature Philadelphia experimental dance artist Nicole Bindler.
The second work by Coleman is based on the music and ideas of composers Claude Debussy and Toru Takemitsu. Called ‘Wave upon Wave’ it is scored for an ensemble of Japanese Gagaku instruments plus cello, electronics and video projections. The work has a dream like quality and explores the connections between the composers, using their music as a part of a collage of images and sounds in homage to modern Japanese cinema.
Founded by Gene Coleman in 2001, Ensemble N_JP is a Japanese and American group who move easily between worlds of the avant-garde and the traditional in Japanese music. They have performed many concerts over the last 10 years in Europe, Asia and the U.S.A. Featured performers from Japan include Naomi Sato (sho), Toshimaru Nakamura (electronics), Naoko Kikuchi (koto) and Yoko Hiraoka (Biwa).
Produced in association with Soundfield and Network for New Music, with additional support provided by the Aaron Copland Fund and The Japan Foundation, New York.
See both Wave upon Wave and Trade Winds from Japan (Friday, April 15th @ IHP) and receive $5 off the total ticket price.
Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts – Inspired by the Kimmel Center
