Abundant Sound Gardens May 13, 2009

Abundant Sound Gardens is a joint commemorative event that celebrates the life of Bay Area composer/trombonist/gardener Toyoji P. Tomita (1951 – 2008). On May 13th, as part of Meridian’s monthly concert series of New Music, Meridian Music: Composers in Performance, Stuart Dempster, a self-described Sound Gatherer, will be composing and performing in real time various new pieces as well as earlier pieces, with the assistance of “Toyoji Trombones,” Dempster Didjeridus, and the Cornelius Cardew Choir (directed by Tom Bickley). Dempster, besides trombone and didjeridu, will be performing on conches, garden hoses, and “sundries,” and will utilize all three floors of Meridian Gallery including the backyard garden for the performance. Musicians Andy Strain, Jen Baker, and Ron Heglin will also perform. Visual artist Suiren, a.k.a. Renko Ishida Dempster, will be creating visuals to some of the music performed as well as engaging in real time drawing with her “Circles of Peace” which will serve as a score for performers to interact.

Suiren’s work created from the concert will hang in the gallery in an exhibition from May 14 – 30 that includes recent series of “visual improvisations,” also done in collaboration with musicians.

Official Website: http://www.meridiangallery.org