• Twitter
  • Facebook
  • SoundCloud
  • Bandcamp
  • Instagram
  • Search ...
Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble
  • Home
  • In Solidarity
  • About
    • About
    • Blog
    • We Have Voice Code of Conduct
    • Projects
      • Ekta: The Unity Project
      • From Maxville to Vanport
      • Water Spirit: A tribute to Jim Pepper
      • Edna Vazquez with PJCE
      • Grasshoppers Young Composers Program
    • Writing for the PJCE
    • Photos
    • Videos
    • Press
  • Buy Tickets
    • Arts for All
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Past Events
  • PJCE Records
  • Podcast
  • Contact
    • Join our email list!
    • Live Music for Private Events
  • Merch
  • Donate
    • Become A Sponsor

Spirit of the Impossible-Strange

  • Concert Video
  • Interview Video
  • PJCE Records Video
5 years ago
0

“Spirit of the Impossible-Strange” was commissioned by the Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble for its May 2014 concert at Tabor Space in Portland, Oregon. The composer, Galen Clark, offered these notes about the piece:

When the person Myth meets the person Reality
The spirit of the impossible-strange appears
In dark disguise
It is always there where nothing inverts itself
and becomes something
Whatever is the imperative need
-Sun Ra

‘The Spirit of the Impossible-Strange’ is loosely based on this poem by Sun Ra. I began the writing process by listening to as much Sun Ra as possible for a few weeks. My goal for this piece was not to try and emulate his work or write in a similar style, but to start with a seed representing the spirit of his music and develop it in my own voice. One of the aspects I love about the music of Sun Ra is the juxtaposition of free improvisation and intriguing dissonance while still maintaining a sense of order and keeping the importance of the group at the forefront. The music carries with it community and spirituality and these are some of the concepts I wanted to transfer into my own writing.

-Galen Clark

Share

No comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

We’re looking for our next sponsor!

Is your brand looking for an innovative, collaborative partner with deep roots in Portland's creative community? Contact us to begin a conversation about reaching new audiences.

Events by Category

  • Educational Event (14)
  • Ensemble Concerts (49)
  • Fundraiser (4)
  • Happy Hour (10)
  • Partner Events (35)
  • PJCE Online (7)
  • PJCE Records Events (30)
  • Workshops (4)

About Us

The Portland Jazz Composers’ Ensemble is a 12-piece jazz chamber orchestra which commissions and performs original works by its members and by other jazz composers in the Portland music community and beyond.
More about us ›
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • SoundCloud
  • Bandcamp
  • Instagram
  • Search ...
Copyright © 2021 Portland Jazz Composers Ensemble