b(locked.orders) (2019)

Commission: Noa Even

Collaboration: Michiko Saiki (video)

Instrumentation: soprano saxophone, electronics, video

Duration: 12 minutes

Program Information:
Executive Order 13769 of early 2017, more commonly known as the travel ban, affected thousands of American immigrants. b(locked.orders) sonifies the stifled voices of immigrants in their adopted countries, as well as silenced minorities within their home countries. The video takes place in an artificial world where two societies co-exist. As a curious observer, the protagonist enjoys praising or ridiculing the other society, but she seems to never question her own wrongdoings. This piece serves as a reminder that through consistent self-awareness and reflection, each of us can choose to truly connect with one another through curiosity, openness, empathy and compassion.

Premiere:
September 3 2019 | Noa Even | Kent State University, Kent, OH

Performance:
September 8 2019 | Noa Even | Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
September 11 2019 | Noa Even | Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI
September 12 2019 | Noa Even | Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo MI
October 12 2019 | Noa Even | University of D.C., Washington DC
October 26 2019 | Noa Even | Fuse Factory, Columbus OH
October 30 2019 | Noa Even | University of Georgia, Athens GA
November 3 2019 | Noa Even | University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Knoxville TN
December 12 2019 | Noa Even | fp Creative, Cleveland, OH
April 10 2022 | Noa Even | Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ