CELL PHONE JAVE BODHI SVAHA (2000) for video and electronic sound
Program Notes
Cell Phone Java Bodhi Svaha consists of audio by Evan Chambers and video by Andy Kirshner. The piece is based on three poems by Chambers, and takes the form of a digital poetry reading, or a suite of two-minute Buddhist commercials. The first movement plumbs the depths of wisdom present in a small squeak-toy Buddha that holds a cup of coffee in one hand and a cell-phone in the other. The words "Bodhi Svaha" in its title are a variant of "Bodhisattva," which refers to an enlightened one who labors tirelessly for the benefit of all beings, even those of us who drink too much coffee. The second movement is based on the form of the koan, which is an unsolvable question posed in meditation practice, and the third movement describes a moment of realization while speeding down the highway. Hamtramk, the town mentioned in the poem, is a notable community in the Detroit Metro area. Voices: Evan Chambers, Andy and Eli Kirshner, and Andrea Reinkemeyer. Drums: Michael Gould. Bass and guitars: Alex Miller. Studio engineer: Chris Konnavoliv.
Evan Chambers is Assistant Professor of Composition and Director of Electronic Music Studios at the University of Michigan. He has received the Walter Beeler Prize from Ithaca college, and awards from the Cincinnati Symphony Composition Competition, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Luigi Russolo competition. His works have been performed by the Cincinnati, Kansas City, Memphis, and Albany symphonies, and are recorded on the Albany and Cambria labels.
Andrew Kirshner is a composer, performer, and media artist. He has received three fellowships from the NEA, numerous commissions, and an award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He holds a DMA in composition from the University of Michigan, where he is an Assistant Professor in Music Technology. His works include An Evening with Tony Amore: a musical tragicomedy for jazz orchestra and soloist, and Who It Is: a one-man musical about race.
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