The Sun Too Close to the Earth

In this Crossing the Line commission, Rhys Chatham draws on 30 years of composing for electric guitar ensembles, recent experiences in playing wind instruments, as well as the minimalism and free jazz that grew out of NYC's downtown music scene.

Written for a nine-person ensemble with guitars, horns, keyboard, and percussion, The Sun Too Close to the Earth reflects the artist’s concern for the ravages of climate change and the senseless destruction of our planet. In this piece, Chatham draws from his roots composing for electric guitar ensembles of widely varying forces, incorporating the overtone drenched minimalism of the early 1960s with the relentless elemental fury of the Ramones -- the textual intricacies of the classical avant-garde colliding with the visceral punch of punk rock

Chatham will also perform the North American premiere of his 20-minute solo work Le Possédé for bass flute. Experimental musicians Zeena Parkins and Jonathan Kane will open with their 2019 duet On, Suzanne.

Part of Crossing the Line 2019