Creatures Of Sound is a new dance and music work that tributes the ideas of composer and trumpeter Don Cherry, featuring choreography by Michele Brangwen, original music by GRAMMY-nominated trumpeter & composer Tim Hagans, and movement and music created spontaneously in the moment by all ten performers. Don Cherry was interested in the relationship of music to the human spirit, and how music could be a force and a presence in our daily lives. Co-presented at the Duffy by Ivesian Arts, Creatures of Sound invites the audience into a magical exploration and celebration of what connects us to each other and the universe.
After becoming famous by playing with saxophonist Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry traveled to Europe, the Far East and Africa, incorporating many different cultural musical influences into his composing and performing. In the late 1960's and throughout the 1970's, Cherry became known for his elaborate interdisciplinary collaborations with music, dance and visual art, as well as his belief that art brings us to a place of unity.
Michele Brangwen writes: “Don Cherry was interested in how art could have a profound effect on people—practitioners and audiences alike. He collaborated with the Swedish designer and visual artist Moki Cherry on immersive environments, one of the most famous being a living exhibition in a geodesic dome at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Sweden. It feels to me like now is the right time to create Creatures Of Sound, especially in light of recent events. Cherry wrote about learning about hate as a young child. As artists I feel we need to do everything we can to counteract the wall of hate that is being erected in this country, and what better way than drawing attention to Cherry, a great artist who faced the wall of hate that he encountered with nothing but creativity and love.”
Creatures of Sound is performed by Adam Castañeda, Meredith Fages, Cristian Laverde König, Lindsey McGill and Michele Brangwen, dancers; Tim Hagans, pocket trumpet; Angela Wang, voice; Michael Eaton, saxophone; Thorbjørn Stefansson, bass; Evan J. Hyde, drums.
The program will also include music by Don Cherry including Brown Rice, Chenrezig, and Art Deco, performed by the Michele Brangwen Dance & Music Ensemble musicians.
Michele Brangwen Dance & Music Ensemble performs Creatures of Sound at James & Martha Duffy Performance Space / Mark Morris Dance Center on Friday, November 7, 2025. [ more information ]
After becoming famous by playing with saxophonist Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry traveled to Europe, the Far East and Africa, incorporating many different cultural musical influences into his composing and performing. In the late 1960's and throughout the 1970's, Cherry became known for his elaborate interdisciplinary collaborations with music, dance and visual art, as well as his belief that art brings us to a place of unity.
Michele Brangwen writes: “Don Cherry was interested in how art could have a profound effect on people—practitioners and audiences alike. He collaborated with the Swedish designer and visual artist Moki Cherry on immersive environments, one of the most famous being a living exhibition in a geodesic dome at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Sweden. It feels to me like now is the right time to create Creatures Of Sound, especially in light of recent events. Cherry wrote about learning about hate as a young child. As artists I feel we need to do everything we can to counteract the wall of hate that is being erected in this country, and what better way than drawing attention to Cherry, a great artist who faced the wall of hate that he encountered with nothing but creativity and love.”
Creatures of Sound is performed by Adam Castañeda, Meredith Fages, Cristian Laverde König, Lindsey McGill and Michele Brangwen, dancers; Tim Hagans, pocket trumpet; Angela Wang, voice; Michael Eaton, saxophone; Thorbjørn Stefansson, bass; Evan J. Hyde, drums.
The program will also include music by Don Cherry including Brown Rice, Chenrezig, and Art Deco, performed by the Michele Brangwen Dance & Music Ensemble musicians.
Michele Brangwen Dance & Music Ensemble performs Creatures of Sound at James & Martha Duffy Performance Space / Mark Morris Dance Center on Friday, November 7, 2025. [ more information ]
