Aiming for a bit more concrete thematic base, we opted to use Psalm 139 as our creative guide this go around. It is a right-weird psalm, as many go. One moment the psalmist is adoring his maker for the beautiful complexity of the self, the next calling for the smoting of the haters. I can feel for such schizophrenia; my faith(doubt) is marked with equally absurd bouts of calm and calamity. Even the Psalm narratives with tidy endings may have taken years to pass--I tend to glamorize the tragedy of the ache and rush to God's deliverance. If we're honest, God doesn't always come through for us. Not all our stories have concise and true endings.

Psalm 139 offers much to play with regarding the intimacy and complexity of our being, and it seemed like a fine follow-up to our previous theme of hiding--oh the wonder of such fractions and nuance to who we are. We're even reading up on fractals (that background image currently adorning the site counts as one--I know, sexy). I often despise the complicated abilities afforded us humans; I wish that life were easier and the world less complex. We could just as easily been created like fish or cattle--not capable of much good or ill (the scope of my bovine theology will have to wait for now).

The musical material as well, is following the theme of nuance and intimacy. It is, to date, the most complicated and dynamic music we've written. We expect to do some of the program without much amplification, letting the acoustic instruments play within the splendid acoustic treatment at Kane Hall.

Fractals will also make there way into the visual installation. I could explain it here, poorly, but that would ruin the fun.

Perhaps we will be honored with your company...
1 Nov at Kane Hall (Univ. of Wash.)