In the Between
So I am in the process of creating an improvised vocal work, called Between.
And, boy, does the name fit.
Between is coming up all over the place as I work on this project. For me, it connects to my original experience in Tenerife of finding myself between Africa and North America and feeling connected and disconnected to a place at the same time.
In the time since the trip, however, Between has expanded to an exploration of being a biracial/bicultured, middle child who is attempting to hold and balance ancestral lineage and wisdom with contemporary intuition and improvisation. (Or something like that.)
…
So there is this idea or identity of Between that I am using the work to explore, but Between is also showing up in the process itself.
And that feels more challenging (and less art-y).
For example, I am between starting and finishing.
I am looking for a sound and collection of musicians somewhere between a choir and an ensemble and between a vocal group and a band.
I want a performance space that feels like something between a theater and recital hall so the audience can witness and interact.
Not to mention that I am switching between being the project’s creator and producer. (These are very different roles.)
…
Most relevant, however, is that I am working to create a piece that is something between a composition and improvisation. Something between a journey and a destination or a story and a moral.
The main question I have to answer is how does one or, at least, how do I compose an improvised work?
Or improvise a composed work.
Or something in between. *smile*
