2022 Special Performance: Song of the Quarry

Space is limited. Advance reservations required.

"Song of the Quarry" is inspired by both the bucolic beauty of Manitoga and its central Quarry Pool. When presented with the opportunity to create music for this enchanting landscape, I was immediately drawn to the central Quarry Pool and its waterfall and envisioned an antiphonal call-and-response among multiple shakuhachi, as the Japanese bamboo flute is wonderfully emblematic of nature. - James Hyoraku Schlefer

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For "Song of the Quarry," four shakuhachi players will be positioned around the central pool to maximize the stone quarry’s natural acoustics. To honor Manitoga’s waterfall, each of the performers will play an excerpt from a traditional shakuhachi piece called Takiochi, or Waterfall. Schlefer will be accompanied by Thomas Ryuraku Hack, Adam Robinson, and Nora Noraku Suggs. Many of the sounds and melodies throughout the piece are evocative of traditional shakuhachi, while others are clearly contemporary and original – a harmonious blending of the classic and the experimental so characteristic of Wright’s Manitoga.

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This performance is made possible, in part, through support from the Sara Little Turnbull Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts, and the 2022 Art & Design Host Committee.

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PLEASE NOTE ‍

The House & Studio will not be open for viewing before, during or after the performance.

This experience includes a MODERATE HIKE on uneven ground, several bridge crossings with no handrails, and a series of 40 stone steps. Seating is comprised of cushions, blankets, benches, boulders and limited chairs, on a first come, first serve basis.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION‍
Please wear flat, outdoor-terrain walking shoes for uneven ground and dress appropriately for outdoor weather. Insect/tick repellent, sunscreen and drinking water are highly recommended.
Seating areas will be designated in the Landscape. A limited number of blankets, cushions, benches and chairs will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
The following personal items are permitted and encouraged: blankets, cushions, pillows. NO CHAIRS OR TENTS will be allowed.
Participants are invited to bring a light picnic to enjoy during the performance (cooking and grilling are not permitted onsite). You must carry out what you carry in.
Pets, tripods, extension poles and selfie-sticks are not permitted.
Children must be at least 5 years of age to attend.
Tickets are valid for the reserved time and date only - non-refundable, non-transferable, no exceptions.
Guests should arrive 15 minutes prior to the ticketed time to allow adequate time for check-in and restroom access. “Doors” open promptly at 11am & 1pm sharp.
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SHAKUHACHI
The shakuhachi is a Japanese bamboo flute that has been played for over 1200 years. It is the only instrument associated with Zen Buddhism and was played by priests of the Fuke sect as part of their Zen practice. During the Edo Period (1600-1868), shakuhachi-playing monks known as Komusō ("Priest of Nothingness") wandered throughout Japan, playing the shakuhachi in exchange for food or alms. As they passed from temple to temple, they would learn each temple’s distinct repertoire and pass them along. Known as honkyoku, this music was created anonymously, shared among the temples, and ultimately passed from teacher to student in a centuries-old tradition that continues to the present day.

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