IN RESIDENCY FROM JULY 15–19

The Rhythm In Nature Residency for 22 artists presented by Pilipinx composer, percussionist and sound artist Susie Ibarra. The Residency featured field recording workshops each morning listening on the river and with the forest birds on the PS21 campus led by Ibarra and multi-instrumentalist, field recordist, and sound engineer Jake Landau. Ibarra taught drum and gong workshops each day focused on learning, interpreting, and playing rhythms of bird songs and the rhythmic equations of waves in water. Four Meditations on Impermanence (2023)* for solo percussion by Susie Ibarra, with guest soloists Tashi Dorji, guitar and Phyllis Chen, piano/sound artist; and guest ensembles, including the Empire State Youth Percussion Ensemble and the Troy High School Marching Band. The performance of Four Meditations on Impermanence, a musical meditation on forests, closed a full day of multidisciplinary engagement with PS21’s grounds and natural setting.

The day included a participatory community performance along the Stony Kill river in Chatham, a musical procession through the forest at PS21, and sonic, visual, and movement projects from Ibarra’s Rhythm in Nature program. Four Meditations on Impermanence was presented on PS21’s pavilion-theater stage and featured several guest artists along with Ibarra. Guest ensembles including the Empire State Youth Percussion Ensemble and the Troy High School Marching Band surrounded the audience providing a spatialized, mobile, and fully immersive percussion environment. Ticket proceeds benefited the Town of Chatham Crellin Park Summer Camp. Ibarra also led at PS21 a Rhythm in Nature Community Performance Workshop in the morning on July 15 at 9:30 AM.