In(SITE): Tatsuya Nakatani + Nakatani Gong Orchestra

Join us for an In(SITE) showcase of Tatsuya Nakatani + Nakatani Gong Orchestra on Friday August 30.

Tatsuya Nakatani is a Japanese avant-garde sound artist and master percussionist known for his radical, transformative approaches to playing percussion. Nakatani often utilizes handcrafted Kobo bows and gongs in his improvised performances. His music is intensely visceral, flowing from periods of droning near-silence to chaotic eruptions, and he’s able to conjure up tones reminiscent of strings, horns, or electronics out of his source material. Active since the late ’90s, he has toured extensively throughout the world, presenting workshops and lectures in addition to giving solo and collaborative performances. Additionally, he has toured with the Nakatani Gong Orchestra since 2011.

The NAKATANI GONG ORCHESTRA (NGO) is a large ensemble touring contemporary sound art project. Local musicians are trained in Nakatani’s technique for playing his adapted bowed Gong, and he conducts them in a performance of his original composition. Nakatani gives a specialized rehearsal to the players in preparation for the performance. There is no expectation of previous experience playing a gong. Nakatani instructs the players in his unique techniques for bowing the gong and following his method of conducting. It is important to note that this project is not a traditional music program or traditional Japanese music, it is a contemporary sound art project.