[powerpress]
Mira’s Kaddish for Osama Bin Laden is an example of why I’m so proud to be her collaborator. The New York Times was running pictures of jubilation over his death and reporting the military details. Mira was pointing out that… well, go read it. She says it better than I ever could.
With her words echoing in my brain, and her “bismilleh” Kaddish text echoing in my headphones, I attempted to play a Kaddish for this whole sorry scene. I don’t think it’s coincidental that I was hitting clams and playing notes out of tune the whole way through.
Wow, Erin, a very fitting kaddish for Osama bin Laden — including the brilliant minute of silence for all the death surrounding him. Kjersti’s participation helps set the scene at the beginning — I could just picture that hideout in Pakistan, with dogs barking. Thank you — this was spot on. Clams are appropriate here, for we live in an imperfect world.
Further thoughts (from email exchange):
I loved the kaddish tonight. Thought it was wholly appropriate with a minute of silence — even though you hadn’t intended that minute at all. You’re good — even when you think you suck, you nail it. This is an amazing project that I can hear every single night how consciousness makes a huge difference — and comes through in a piece, attitude comes through, and it’s not about playing ‘soulfully’ or something. I’m beginning to understand that it’s always something very specific that’s coming through, the circumstances of each playing. My son used to do this as a kid, and while intrigued, I completely missed the larger implications.
I’d be interested to know what your son thinks of all this—what he hears in our project, if he’s listening, and how he hears music generally.
At some point, you’ll have to ask him.