Mahakala Oratorio is a collaboration with composer Leila Adu. The piece, originally commisioned by chatterbird, had its live performance premiere with the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) at New York University's Skirball Center in NYC, March 2024. Adu composed the music and I created the visuals, which were projected above the orchestra during the concert.
Mahakala Oratorio’s inspiration draws directly from the Buddhist deity of the same name. Adu adapted Plainsong Pujua of Mahakala, originally compiled by Lama Chimé Shore from ancient texts from the late Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche and the late Ven. Kalu Rinpoche, describing Mahakala as a tool to empower listeners to consider the idea of radical compassion in this era of social, political, and environmental extremism.
Building upon this theme, the visuals center around creating contemporary mandalas, circular spiritual/art artifacts found in Vajrayana Buddhism. The archetype of a circle appears in many cultures throughout history. The Native Americans had the medicine wheel, which is a symbol for healing, growth, and finding one’s place in the universe. Carl Jung postulated that the circle symbolizes wholeness of self, unifying the conscious and unconscious parts of our psyches. The geometric patterns in Islamic art are often started with a simple circle, overlapping and combining with other shapes forming complex patterns, which can extend indefinitely, suggesting infinity. In Sanskrit, the word mandala literally translates as ‘circle.’
I built a physics system that generated the visuals for the performance. By varying the starting conditions of the system, many diverse circular images emerge through the accumulation of the system's moment to moment state over time. Often, the system will find a place of equilibrium after some time, but eventually it breaks down into chaos, naturally expressing entropy.
Links: ICE and symphony.org.
(note: video is black for the first 30 seconds before visuals come in):
CREDITS
Composed by Leila Adu
Visuals by Aaron Sherwood
MUSICIANS
Leila Adu-Gilmore, voice
International Contemporary Ensemble:
Kalena Bovell, conductor;
Isabel Lepanto Gleicher, flute;
Alice Teyssier, flute & voice;
Emmalie Tello, clarinet;
Rebekah Heller, bassoon;
Hugo Moreno, trumpet;
Nicolee Kuester, horn;
Kalia Vandever, trombone;
Miranda Cuckson, violin;
Pala García, violin;
Kal Sugatski, viola;
Chris Gross, cello;
Nuiko Wadden, harp;
Vicky Chow, piano;
Edward Kass, bass;
Nathan Davis, percussion;
Clara Warnaar, percussion;
Pheeroan akLaff, drumset;
CHATTERBIRD: Mahakala was originally commissioned and performed online during the pandemic by Nashville, TN contemporary chamber music ensemble chatterbird. I made a completely different set of visuals for that performance.
CHATTERBIRD CREDITS
Composed by Leila Adu
Visuals by Aaron Sherwood
Commissioned and performed by chatterbird: Celine Thackston, Artistic Director; Jesse Strauss, Assistant Artistic Director
MUSICIANS
Joe Lee, Conductor;
Rebekah Alexander, Soprano;
Leila Adu, Vocals;
Ryan Cockman, Violin;
Annaliese Kowert, Violin;
Clare Yang, Viola;
Joshua Dent, Cello;
Benjamin Jones, Double Bass;
Celine Thackston, Flute;
Mark Cramer, Clarinet;
Maya Stone, Bassoon;
Jennifer Kummer, French Horn;
Matt Jefferson, Trombone;
Timbre Cierpke, Harp;
Jesse Strauss, Percussion
AUDIO
Recording Engineer, Mixing, and Mastering: Kevin Edlin;
Asst. Recording Engineer: Aaron Dethrage;
Producer: Jesse Strauss;
Audio Recorded at Eastside Manor, Nashville, TN;
Leila Adu Vocals:
Recording Engineer: Erik Bell;
Assistant Engineer: Kevin Kopczynski
FILM
Videographer & Editor: Lauren Balthrop;
Additional Camera Operator: James Paul Mitchell;
Dance/Choreography: Kiori Kawai
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
Erich Barganier;
Trinity Community Commons
SPONSORS
Metro Arts, Nashville;
Tennessee Arts Commission;
New Music USA;
MediaTHE Foundation;
Puffin Foundation West, Ltd.