Erik Ruin, The Brightwork Ensemble, Spacepants, and Synchromy team up to present a showcase of the twelve signs of the Zodiac
About this event
While COVID has taught us many things, one lesson that many people have learned is that you can’t predict the future. Or can you? For centuries, humanity has looked to the stars in an attempt to do just that. The Zodiac has inspired humanity to take precautions, look for signs, and create art.
In the early 1970s, German composer Stockhausen created tunes for twelve music boxes, each representing a sign of the Zodiac, or Tierkreis. These became so popular that each day at noon the current sign’s melody is performed on the carillon of Cologne’s Town Hall tower. For these performances, Synchromy reenvisioned Stockhausen’s compositions for The Brightwork Ensemble and commissioned twelve local composers to write Zodiac-inspired pieces of their own.
This tapestry of musical invention will be accompanied by artist Erik Ruin’s cut paper projections. His work oscillates between apocalyptic anxieties and utopian yearnings. Erik’s visions will meld with the music, creating a live performance embracing the mortal and ethereal.
Prior to the concert, Spacepants, an ensemble so tongue-in-cheek that they reach truths that can otherwise be inaccessible, will perform parodies on 1970s Zodiac poetry as the audience is seated. We will also have tarot readings available before, during intermission, and after the performance.
This performance is made possible in part by the City of Culver City and its Cultural Affairs Commission, with support from Sony Pictures Entertainment and the Culver City Arts Foundation.