Notes From the Grid is a bi-weekly column about the Columbia County music scene written by Rob. It is featured every other Friday in the "On the Scene" supplement of the Hudson Register Star. See all »

August 21, 2011

Art Omi Musician Residency

Saturday August 6th I went to Art Omi for one of my favorite annual events – the Music Omi residency program’s concluding concert. Not many people I’ve spoken to are aware of the annual Music residency at Omi or the concluding tented concert which is open to the public and absolutely free. Here’s how Omi itself describes the program:

Each August approximately a dozen musicians - composers and performers from around the globe - come together for two and a half weeks in a unique collaborative music making residency program. Music Omi encourages its participants to share ideas; performing each other’s works and writing music for one another while exploring their own musical vision; broadening their artistic horizons. A singular feature of the Music Omi experience is the presentation of two public concerts at the conclusion of the program (one at Omi at the conclusion of the residency, and the other at a New York City venue the following day). All awarded fellows commit to remaining for the entire residency and to participating in the concluding concerts. 

For a decade the Omi concert each August has been one of the most anticipated events on my calendar. There are generally twelve or so musicians from various parts of the world representing various musical genres (or non-genres) and cultures. Each year one of the musicians returns as an alumnus in residence and the whole shebang is run by Jeffrey Lependorf the director of the Music Omi international residency program and an accomplished and successful musician in his own right.

Over the past decade I’ve seen a lot of incredible performances at these cumulative events – I remember the day (about ten years ago) that Mr. Lependorf entered an earlier incarnation of Musica, on Main Street in Chatham, on an August afternoon. He was followed by a hodgepodge of enthusiastic men and women speaking in a number of exotic languages (or submitting musical requests with a number of exotic accents). As the owner of a fairly eclectic music store I’m used to puzzled looks and a barrage of questions about my more obscure merchandise. It was especially gratifying to meet a dozen people who not only were familiar with foreign and unusual instruments, they were accomplished and expert in their experimentation.  Jeffrey and I became fast friends and I have attended the annual Omi concerts as often as I have been able.

This year featured a talented vocalist from India trained in Hindustani Classical music, a sax player and a composer from Brooklyn, an American experimental bassoonist, an electric guitarist from Peru, a bagpiper/guitarist from New Zealand, a performance artist from Puerto Rico, an Echota Cherokee musican, a Korean traditional music singer, a German flautist, cellist and double bassist, and a Russian pianist.  There is usually close to an equal split between genders (I’m not sure if that’s on purpose but I suppose so) . Throw them altogether and you’ll get something extraordinary at the concert beginning with an ensemble piece which had the musicians reading from music stands – though what they were reading is often self-evolved notation resembling abstract art more than tradition notes and staves and there are plenty of numbers involved, if a person paid attention to such things they would see a lot of counting going on in the faces of the musicians as well as the occasional raised hands waving four fingers, then three… two.. one… at the intersection of sequences. The initial ensemble piece, conducted by Jeffrey, began with percussive tapping on electric guitar and a most inventive and beautiful interaction of bassoon and clarinet giving way to pizzicato cello, violin and bass which evolved to bowing as the saxophone entered – at this point the guitarist was using a paint brush and some manner of percussive metal gizmo to coax sounds from his instrument.

An especially beautiful offering was “Focusing” led by violinist Helen Lee who is a multi-instrumentalist and composer with experience in classical, rock,jazz, chinese music and free improvisation. The pieces are generally not singularly composed but group formed, and a leader, or manager, is picked to organize each one. “Focusing” began with a number of gentle exchanges and interactions between bass flute, violin, bassoon, cello and Native American flute which evolved into call and response and poignant conversations between the instruments and then to adamant declarations of belief with the musicians tonality, facial expressions and body language betraying diverse reactions to the music they were presenting. When the music abruptly halted Ms Lee offered the spoken finale in a matter of fact manner

“It’s easy. Just pretend that your life depends on the next note.”

Another standout was “Tpoetry” a piece led by South Korean singer Minhee Park which offered the form (but not the melody) of a Korean traditional folk song full of surprises and sonic sorties into such unknown dark territories that this listener found himself becoming wary about the sanity and and safety of the involved musicians.

Not everything thing presented could be cited as avant-garde, modern or experimental music, there were quite a few interludes of Korean, Hindustani and American folk tradition, Latin grooves, jazz and classical standards.  Ironically, perhaps the least traditional use of an instrument may have been “Short Walk for a Bagpipe and Friends” led by David Watson, a bagpiper and multi-instrumentalist from New Zealand who has worked with such luminaries as Lee Renaldo of Sonic Youth and John Zorn.

In my conversations with these musicians I became aware that unlike many artistic residencies these artist were not here for peace and quiet or to work on specific projects but to interact and share ideas with other creative minds. To nurture ideas and to become better collaborators, to bask in the warm glowunshine of creative environment.

The Dance Omi showing will be at the Art Omi Sculture Park August 28, 2 – 4 PM

Shane Murphy returns to the Spotty Dog on August 20 w/Lonesome Dan Kase