Liner Notes by PEK

Five times a year, a smallish Leap of Faith Orchestra (10 to 15 players) heads over to Third Life Studios in Somerville for an evening of large ensemble improvisation. For the first half of the show, we do four short 15 minute improvisations by different quartet sub-groupings of the orchestra. Then we do a 50 minute improvisation with everyone.

These shows are open to the entire Evil Clown roster of about 50 musicians. So, although we have some steady regulars, the orchestra really is different every time. I assign the sub-units to take advantage of unusual groupings of instruments. I also bring a bunch of auxiliary instruments like wood blocks, hand chimes, bells, slide whistles, sirens, etc., which we distribute though the ensemble to enable players to completely change their sound.

For the longer improvisation with everyone, we have a rule that each player should lay out for roughly a third of the duration of the piece. Together with the broad palate provided by a large ensemble with everyone capable of instrument changes, this rule naturally creates a steady flow of transformation though different sonorities.

For this performance, the band is smaller than usual at 8 musicians, and Yuri was not available for once. When we have a full complement, the sub-units are quartets or even quintets, but with a smaller orchestra, I selected a duet, quartet and two trios. In the 90s period, Glynis and I performed as a Leap of Faith duet on at least several occasions, but in the recent period, we have not done one. I think the tightness of vision that comes with being the core of the larger ensembles is really apparent from this duet. The other sub-units sets are excellent also and each very different from the others.