photo by Michael Zelner, June 21, 2011 Laura Inserra
Garden of Memory — a Columbarium Walk-Through Performance Event at the Chapel of the Chimes
The Garden of Memory walk-through performance event is held every June 21st, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. PDT, to celebrate the Solstice, at The Chapel of the Chimes, in Oakland, California.
I have participated in the annual Garden of Memory event at the Chapel of the Chimes since its first year, in 1996, when Sarah Cahill founded this extraordinary, one-of-a-kind, site-specific concert. In the first few years, as a walking “audient,” I recorded audio, took photos and shot video of the who’s who of Bay Area musicians and other performers, and the audience members, a fascinating cross-section of Bay Area residents.
The historic landmark columbarium, designed by architect Julia Morgan, contains elegant, winding staircases and passageways on each level that lead one through a labyrinth of over 110 chambers, replete with beautiful, tropical indoor gardens, water fountains and pools, and the quiet inner rooms where the deceased rest peacefully in “urns” that look like bound books in bronze and other elements. The lovely stained glass windows and roof skylights bathe the building in a remarkable light, even more magical during the late afternoon golden through sunset hours (5:00-9:00 p.m.), when the Garden of Memory event occurs on the Summer Solstice (June 21st) each year.
In the early 2000s, I started performing there, usually with the Cornelius Cardew Choir. In 2005, one of the pieces we performed was a piece I had composed specifically for the location and occasion, with written text, entitled Wings of Silver Light. (I am currently writing an updated version of the piece, which now has jazz/gospel elements, much different and more complex than the original version.) In fact, many of the composers and performers have created works specifically for Garden of Memory. There are also a number of very creative electronic and computer-based musicians, as well as dancers, poets, theatre artists, and occasionally, a few video artists, who have performed or presented contemporary work at the event. Some musicians build their own instruments or use other technologies they have developed, including some that utilize ambient sounds from the flowing water fountains, ponds, or plants nearby.
What is especially wonderful, for a walk-through audience participant, is the cross-blend of delightful sounds you hear in the passageways, between musical performers in different, adjacent chambers; and your sense of discovery, as you “find” a performer hidden away in a remote warren-like corner of the building. Children love the event, and I am sure that the deceased members of the audience must appreciate being serenaded in their quiet slumber by the annual collection of musicians performing next to their spaces of internment. Indeed, there are a number of prominent musicians and other Bay Area citizens who are interred at Chapel of the Chimes. When you enter the building, you get a map at the ticket table, so that you can find your way around, and locate any performer friends you may know at the event.
For those who may not be able to walk for an hour of more at a time, or if you’re bringing small children, there are at least two concert spaces on the main floor, where a number of the musicians perform over the four-hour period. There are elevators in the building, so much of it is wheelchair accessible.
There are vendors near the Piedmont Avenue entrance that sell food and beverages, and there are water fountains in the building, but you may want to carry bottled water with you and wear comfortable shoes. The event has become very popular, and seating is limited in some of the smaller chambers of the building.
Although Garden of Memory is known as an interactive “New Music” event, you’ll actually find quite a diversity in musical styles among the performers, and sometimes, there have also been performing ensembles that have included dancers, text, video and other elements.
- Composers and Performers:
- Travis Andrews
- John Benson
- John Bischoff
- Nils Bultmann
- Sarah Cahill
- Cardew Choir
- Beth Custer
- Paul Dresher and Joel Davel
- Thea Farhadian and Dean Santomieri
- Giacomo Fiore
- Larnie Fox and The Crank Ensemble
- Guillermo Galindo and Sangita Moskow
- Gautam Tejas Ganeshan
- Phil Gelb
- Glou Glou
- Wayne Grim
- Emily Hay and Motoko Honda
- Bill Hsu, Kyle Bruckmann and Gino Robair
- Laura Inserra
- Jaroba and Friends
- Henry Kaiser and Brandy Gale
- Kitka
- Guy Klucevsek
- Lightbulb Ensemble
- Stephen Kent
- Dylan Mattingly
- Andrew Meyerson, Danny Clay, Anne Rainwater and Joseph Colombo
- Amy X Neuburg
- Oa
- Orchestra Nostalgico
- Maggi Payne
- Robin Petrie
- Dan Plonsey: Rooftop Goggle
- Randy Porter
- Gyan Riley
- ROVA Saxophone Quartet
- Edward Schocker
- Moe! Staiano
- Lindsey Walker
- William Winant Percussion Group
- Wobbly and Thomas DiMuzio
- Pamela Z
Following are a few selected photos from previous Garden of Memory events, and other information about the Cardew Choir’s performance this year (below the photos).
photo by Michael Zelner, June 21, 2011 – Beth Custer & Stephen Kent
Henry Kaiser at Garden of Memory at Chapel of the Chimes 2014. Photo by Stuart Steinhardt
Randy Porter June 21, 2011. Photo by Michael Zelne
Edward Schocker at Garden of Memory, Chapel of the Chimes 2014 – photo (c) by MarcoSanchez.net.
photo by Michael Zelner, June 21, 2012 Eli Wirtschafter and Dylan Mattingly
Photo by Michael Zelner, June 21, 2012 Luciano Chessa
Photo by Michael Zelner, June 21, 2012 Ellen Fullman and Theresa Wong
Photo by Michael Zelner, June 21, 2012 Miya Masaoka and Larry Ochs
Larnie Fox’s Timeharp, June 21, 2008. Photo by Cherri Lakey
Buy tickets for Garden of Memory 2015.
Members of the Cardew Choir who will perform include (this list may be updated):
Tom Bickley (Co-Founder, Director)
Bob Marsh (Co-Founder)
Nancy Beckman
Cathryn Hrudicka
Kalonica McQuesten
Rae Diamond
Joe Kuta
Patti Deuter
Brad Fischer
Katherine Setar
Diane Caudillo
Dennis Aman
Several of the Cardew Choir members are also performing in other ensembles for part of the evening. Check for updates at the Garden of Memory web site.
The audience is invited into our circle to sing composer Pauline Oliveros’s meditative piece, Heart Chant, which includes improvisation by audience and the Cardew Choir. Although we usually perform a repertoire of works at other performances, often composed by members of the choir, this piece has been performed at nearly every annual Garden of Memory Walk-Through Concert by popular demand, and is now a tradition at the event. The Heart Chant is followed by the sunset bell-ringing ceremony at approximately 8:30 p.m., when the entire chapel is filled with the echoes of song and bells drifting down all three floors, unforgettable in the rose and mauve sunset glow through skylights and stained glass windows.
There are several sets of photos on my Flickr account of past Garden of Memory events, including of a previous year’s Heart Chant. There is also a set of YouTube video clips of Heart Chant, beginning with this one.
In addition to the photos above, you can also view the Flickr photo pool for previous Garden of Memory events. A previous blog post about this event can be found here.
Media coverage of past Garden of Memory events has been archived on their web site.
Are you curious about what you’ll experience during the entire event? Want a sample preview? You can read more, and watch and listen to the video, at New Music Box: “Let’s see what this is!” — Garden of Memory 2013.
Come join the Cardew Choir in singing the Heart Chant! Whether you sing or just listen, you’ll want to take photos, shoot video, or record some of the sounds you’ll hear in this magical environment.
Please subscribe to this blog or ask to be added to the Creative Sage Arts e-letter list for news about other events, projects, books, and performances coming up in the next year, in which I’ll be participating.
The Cardew Choir has another performance scheduled on Saturday, June 27th, at the Richard Waters New Music Festival, to be presented from 1:00-10:00 p.m. PDT, at the Berkeley Arts Festival gallery and performance space, in downtown Berkeley, California. We will be performing at 8:00 p.m. PDT. I’ll post more about this event within the next week.
Please feel free to ask questions or comment below this post — and come say hello afterward, if you attend this event. We look forward to seeing you there!
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