Retreat

Retreat is a collaboration ideated by Michael Malis and Zara Teicher. It is comprised of four compositions entitled:

1. Resign (for Pipe Organ and Horn)

2. Realign (for Piano and Harmonium)

3. Reseed/Recede (for Pipe Organ and Horn)  

4. Repeat (for two melodicas)

Retreat asks the performers and audience to disappear into long expanses of sound, forgoing their sense of self to welcome spacious and dense vibrations. The 4 movements – Resign, Realign, Reseed/Recede, and Repeat – converge to offer a blueprint for giving up oneself to something larger – an ocean of sound, within which desire might fade away. It also asks us to consider the many meanings of a retreat – perhaps a withdrawing into oneself, perhaps a place of meditation, or perhaps the reversal of a military invasion.

Retreat utilizes the spaciousness of St. Anthony’s Cathedral in Detroit as a sort of third entity in the performance. The building itself acts as a vessel for the vibrations of the two instruments, mainly pipe organ and French horn, allowing the listener to become immersed in the mixing of the harmonious vibrations.  The compositions themselves are meditations, loosely based on sacred music. The result is an engaging sonic environment in which the listener can withdraw from the mundane world and enter a state of introspection.

“Resign” for Pipe Organ and Horn, is a notated piece of music with layers of internal circular structures. Both performers are instructed to play their respective parts asynchronously. This results in constantly shifting harmonies, surprising moments of coaslecence and dissonance, as well as intentional microtonality. The overall effect is sort of hypnotic but never predictable.

“Realign” for Piano and Harmonium is a structured improvisation based around an expanding and narrowing series of pitch sets. It capitalizes on the unique harmonic spectrum of the Harmonium and the contrasting sound quality of the Piano. 

“Reseed/Recede” for Pipe Organ and Horn is the longest section of Retreat. This piece invites both performers to improvise around 11 different pitch sets, creating a sense of subtle shifts within an overall continuity. Meditative drones showcase harmonic idiosyncrasies resulting from the unique qualities of the particular Pipe Organ at the Cathedral. There are also moments of surprise, of silence, of dynamic and timbral contrast, all of which result in an encompassing and vast sound environment.

“Repeat” is a in improvised piece for two harmoniums. The piece begins with a statement from one player and a response from the other. This counterpoint continues, exploring the possibilities of a single harmonic structure and highlighting the rhythm of the breath, but eventually morphs into a more choral-like quality. This piece rounds out Retreat with a bit of gentleness and closeness.