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The Book of Fixed Stars
William M. Staerkel Planetarium
2400 W. Bradley Ave.
Champaign, Illinois 61821
(217) 351-2568
Category
Hours
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An accordion ensemble led by Colin Hochstetler,
a musicology student at the University of Illinois, and Hayden Mesnick,
an improvisation student at the University of Guelph,
will premiere Mesnick’s composition The Book of Fixed Stars.
Colin and Hayden's ensemble will interpret constellations to
create an ambient soundscape which can only be experienced in a planetarium.
After the accordion ensemble performance of The Book of Fixed Stars,
the planetarium will replace the sky with geometric imagery to accompany
a quartet improvised performance. Jason Finkelman, the director of the
University of Illinois Improvisers Exchange, will also lead his ensemble
to interpret surreal visuals on the dome. Finally, the Improvisers Exchange
Ensemble and the accordionists will come together to play another
Mesnick composition, Drone Piece, as the dome shows a simulated flight
from outside the Milky Way galaxy, past nearby stars, through the
Solar System, and finally to Earth.
The musicians hope that the improvised performances
and the planetarium’s visuals inspire the audience to resonate
with the universe in their own way.
Tickets are free but must be reserved.