They will have been so beautiful: Songs and images of now is a collaboration between Amy and The Paul Dresher Ensemble that will result in a concert of new photography-inspired songs by 10 diverse composers. The concert will take place December 5 and 6, 2014, at CalPerformances, Berkeley, and eventually at venues around the U.S.

In addition to performing the songs (on voice and electronics) with the ensemble, Amy will contribute a 15-20 minute piece and collaborate on lyric-writing with the other commissioned composers: Paul Dresher,  Lisa Bielawa, Jay Cloidt, Conrad Cummings, Fred Frith, Guillermo Galindo, Carla Kihlstedt, Ken Ueno and Pamela Z. The Paul Dresher Ensemble Electro-Acoustic Band features Karen Bentley Pollick, Joel Davel, Marja Mutru, Gene Reffkin, Jeff Anderle, and special guest John Schott.

The project concept was inspired by photographer Diane Arbus’ stunningly poetic 1963 Guggenheim grant application titled American Rites, Manners and Customs, in which she proposed to photograph the everyday people, places and routines of contemporary society, which to generations of the future “will have been so beautiful.” Thus each composer will find or create a photograph or series of images that speaks to him or her in this regard, and use the images as inspiration for the music. We envision a concert of 10 engagingly diverse musical and visual portraits of our current world.

To donate to this project, please visit the Paul Dresher Ensemble’s donation page.

Many thanks to the East Bay Community Foundation for funding Amy’s commission and performance fees.