Big Ears - Day Four

Not that any day at this year's Big Ears Festival was "normal," but yesterday was particularly unusual, being dominated and bookended by two long performances that demanded sustained concentration and attention by the audience, and with two of the principal composers present well over the age of 80.  Anyway, a quick rundown of who and what we saw on Sunday.

THE ROEDELIUS CELLS PRESENTED BY TIM STORY

A sound installation at the Knoxville Museum of Art (hence, the festivities at the top of the page) by Tim Story and based on the music of Hans-Joachim Roedelius (who we saw perform at The Mammal Gallery back in 2017).  Very calming and meditative, and a great opportunity to practice kinhin (walking meditation).  A good way to prepare for the performance that followed. 

THE EVER PRESENT ORCHESTRA FEATURING STEPHEN O'MALLEY AND OREN AMBARCHI PERFORMING THE WORKS OF ALVIN LUCIER

More at the Museum of Art, this time a two-hour set of various presentations of long sustained notes, sonic overtones, and phase interference, with the 87-year-old iconoclastic composer Alvin Lucier present and wearing a very cool Black Lives Matter sweatshirt.

NIK BARTSCH'S RONIN

Nik Bartsch calls his quartet's jazz fusion music "Zen Funk," which is not a bad description of the set.  An energetic pick me up at the Tennessee Theater after the austere performances at the Knoxville Museum of Art.

WADADA LEO SMITH

Trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith performing his 1978 LP Divine Love with original musicians Bobby Naughton and Dwight Andrews.  For reasons not apparent to the audience (at least not to us and those around us), the 60-minute show ended after about 20 minutes with no explanation.

HAROLD BUDD

This was the Harold Budd set we came to Knoxville to see.  His Friday show was fine, but it was short recitals of various pieces by different musicians.  This was an extended version (almost two hours) of his composition As Long As I Can Hold My Breath from his 2005 album, Avalon Sutra.  It was lovely, meditative, and exactly the Harold Budd experience we had wanted.  The 82-year-old Budd even took an on-stage bow at the end of the piece.

And that was the day!  Fewer acts than on previous days, but it felt just as satisfying.  Two long performances of minimalistic music that challenged the listener's attention but also rewarded that attention when given.  All at seated venues all day (our feet appreciated that).   Extra bonus points: we saw Harold Budd and Tim Story at breakfast this morning.  

And that was the festival!  It's back home today - we have cats a-waiting and miles to drive.