Maya Variations for Earth Harp
by David Hoppe
William Close invented his Earth Harp to resonate with different sites and spaces — from canyons and highway underpasses, to the IMA’s Pulliam Great Hall for the Midwest premiere of composer Yuval Ron’s “Maya Variations for Earth Harp.” Ron accompanied Close, who strung his harp across the hall’s cavernous space — actually positioning the audience inside his instrument — on computer, as did Yeghish Manukyan, a masterful Armenian woodwinds player. The result, complemented by hi-res video provided by David LeBrun from his documentary film Breaking the Maya Code, was a sensual delight for a standing-room-only crowd. —David Hoppe
