Bits and Pieces

A world premiere video, co-produced by Art of Elan and the critically acclaimed New York-based orchestra, The Knights

Click below to watch the newly released 10-minute video of this remarkable collaboration, that is available free of charge on YouTube

When long-time friends, family, and collaborators were coincidentally all quarantined in San Diego this past fall, a creative collaboration was born, one that featured music, dance and architecture, as well as arts organizations on both coasts: Art of Elan and the critically acclaimed New York-based orchestra, The Knights.

The resulting 10-minute video features a choreographed performance with string quintet, dancer Maile Okamura, and Wu Man, the world’s premiere pipa virtuoso. The performance, entitled Bits and Pieces, was inspired by famed American composer Lou Harrison’s Concerto for Pipa, which was originally written for Wu Man in 1997.

The two-day shoot was filmed safely at the architecturally significant and inspiring setting of the Harrison House and in a wooded backyard in Hillcrest, San Diego. Tucked away in the vast desert landscape near the border of Joshua Tree National Park, the late composer’s majestic desert retreat is now a residency and performance venue for international artists and environmental activists.

Other featured artists in the project include Colin Jacobsen (violin), Kate Hatmaker (violin), Travis Maril (viola), Alex Greenbaum (cello) , and Jeremy Kurtz-Harris (bass). The video is directed by Kyle Johnson and Maile Okamura, cinematography is by Fiona Digney, and audio recording is by Daniel Rumley.

The collaboration was commissioned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Department of Musical Instruments.

“As we start a new year, the uplifting nature of this collaborative video is both timely and welcome. The aesthetically beautiful locations where we filmed help bring out the transcendent qualities of Harrison’s music in a way that communicates hope, resilience and optimism. What a great message for us all right now.”

-- Kate Hatmaker, Artistic and Executive Director of Art of Elan