This Ain’t Jingle Bells
When I sat down at “Radical Adornment” on Friday, April 21 — the first night of the 92nd St Y’s Julius Eastman celebration — the person next to me eyed my notebook.
“I just flew in from Europe, and am super jetlagged,” they said. “So, if I start snoring…”
“Do you want me to poke you?” I asked, confused.
“No, I just meant, it’s not because I’m bored, so don’t write it in your review!”
It turns out, it would have been impossible to fall asleep during Wild Up’s performance of “Femenine.” Not only because it was truly riveting from beginning to end. But because it was loud.
As the lights dimmed, people craned their necks to see the chorus of sleigh bells on the balcony. Over time, you begin to tune out the cricket-like sound. Like a white noise machine in the night.
One by one, the musicians enter: vibraphone, piano, violin, cello, flutes, saxophones, vocalists. Those who especially stood out: percussionist Sidney Hopson, pianist Richard Valitutto, violinist Darian Donovan Thomas, and cellist Derek Stein
Semi-improvised, the piece comes together again and again on the rhythmic theme, as musicians flow freely, in and out. It’s about the ritual of playing — walking onstage, sitting down, and joining in.
Towards the end, conductor Christopher Rountree joins the stage, pumping his fists and holding up fingers. With primal-sounding moans by vocalist Jodie Landau, and brief moments of dissonance, each crescendo was like reaching a higher state.
It felt like a relief when, an hour later, the sound finally faded out. My ears are still ringing.