By DAVID DUPONT
BG INDEPENDENT NEWS
The EAR|EYE concert series at the Toledo Museum of Art brings together musicians from Bowling Green State University’s Doctor of Musical Arts in Contemporary Music program with art on display at the Toledo Museum of Art.
Saxophonist Christopher Murphy performs “Tre Pezzis” by Giacinto Scelsi beneath one of the heads in “Hear No Evil, See No Evil, See No Evil.”
The series opened its second season Friday night inside the Levis Galleries with the sculptures of Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. The galleries offered the musicians and about 80 listeners plenty of chance to move about and perform. For each piece, the musician is stationed in proximity to an art work.
The monumental size of several pieces lent themselves well to such interaction. Soprano Hillary LaBonte sang inside the hanging curtains of words of “Silent Rains.” Saxophonist Christopher Murphy performed under the looming, gargoyle like heads of “Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, See No Evil.”
As usual the pieces correlation between the pieces and the works are imprecise, yet evocative. The format allows both a fresh look at the art, and a chance to hear contemporary music from a different angle.
Each performance was introduced first by Robin Reisenfeld, a museum curator, who gave insight into the individual Plensa works, and then Marilyn Shrude, who provided listening notes to the music. Scott Boberg, the museum’s manager of programs, shepherded the listeners from spot to spot within the gallery.
The next performance will be Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.at the museum.
Related stories
For a story on an EAR|EYE concert last November visit: https://medium.com/@DavidRDupont/in-the-shadow-of-paris-the-music-plays-on-6429b539d576#.m65d6wbz8.
For a story on the Plensa exhibit visit: http://bgindependentmedia.org/jaume-plensas-in-just-the-right-place-at-toledo-museum-of-art/
Flutist Kenneth Cox plays “Loops I” by Philippe Hurel near the stainless steel heads “Awilda and Irma.”
Henrique Batista performs “Velocities” for marimba by Joseph Schwantner near “Talking Continents III.”
Hillary LaBonte sings “La Musique” by Elliott Carter will standing inside “Silent Rain.”
Flutist Kenneth Cox performs “In Living Memory” by Toshi Ichiyanagi near the “Slumberland” drawings.
The EAR|EYE audience listens in the Levis Galleries at the Toledo Museum of Art.
Marilyn Shrude introduces “fzzl” by Dan VanHassel, performed on snare drum and live electronics by percussionist Nicholas Fox.
