Continents of Humanity (Part I)
Marcos Perez in "Continents of Humanity."
Photo: Rose Eichenbaum
Premier: 2011
Length: 20 Minutes
Categories: Large Ensemble, Duet
Choreography – Donald McKayle
Available for Re-staging: Yes
Repetiteur: Randall Smith
Music – Doug Richards
“Intercontinental Concerto for
Trumpet and Jazz Orchestra”
Movements: 1, 2, 3 – Rex
Richardson, Trumpet soloist
and The Great American
Music Ensemble
Note: The full evening of Continents of Humanity Parts I and II is available as a Premier Presentation.
About Continents of Humanity (Part I)
(Africa, Asia, Europe)
CONTINENTS OF HUMANITY (Part I) is set to the first three movements of Doug Richards' major new work, "The Intercontinental Concerto for Trumpet and Jazz Orchestra." It is a vibrant and constantly engaging composition in six movements tracing human life on the six major continents of the world: Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, North America, and South America. Rex Richardson is the brilliant trumpet soloist playing with the marvelous jazz orchestra, the Great American Music Ensemble. I have built the work on the UCI Etude Ensemble, a wonderful student company of nineteen dancers whose members graduate and consistently go into professional careers in modern dance and ballet companies, in commercial dance work on Broadway, in Las Vegas, and international companies.
The dance opens with the big bang and the beginning of humanity in Africa. This is a large and high-energy full canvas for the entire ensemble that seamlessly evolves into Asia, a strikingly contrasting duet of measured and mesmerizing detail. The third and final movement is Europe filled with changing groupings and sweeping passages that grow from stately solemnity to a brio conclusion. An impromptu Coda signals the end of (Part I) and presages (Part II,) Australia, North America, South America.
Both the music and the movement are rich with the flavors and idiosyncrasies of the cultures they represent along with the vitality of contemporary vernacular jazz expression.
The dance opens with the big bang and the beginning of humanity in Africa. This is a large and high-energy full canvas for the entire ensemble that seamlessly evolves into Asia, a strikingly contrasting duet of measured and mesmerizing detail. The third and final movement is Europe filled with changing groupings and sweeping passages that grow from stately solemnity to a brio conclusion. An impromptu Coda signals the end of (Part I) and presages (Part II,) Australia, North America, South America.
Both the music and the movement are rich with the flavors and idiosyncrasies of the cultures they represent along with the vitality of contemporary vernacular jazz expression.
Andrea Yorita and Justin Keats in "Continents of Humanity." Photo: Rose Eichenbaum