Groundhog Night

Composer John Howell Morrison’s ecologically aware, malleably user-friendly work Groundhog Night (Hear What the Earth Says) for a variable three-person ensemble represents a unique educational opportunity for composers, performers, and ‘listening participants’ (meaning everyone present).

Your composition “Groundhog Night” was rewarding in many ways. First, it presented the opportunity for student performers and composers to explore the idiom of open, unmetered scores in a simple and direct manner. This was the first experience for them to perform from a score that used only timing markings rather than time signatures. The work also introduced them to modern techniques of notation that solved many of the problems presented by open meter works. The most interesting part for me was how well they performed and experimented with extended techniques and improvisation. As you know, it is rare for them to have this much input toward the creative process. They found the experience much less daunting thanks to the clarity of your score, articulate preliminary notes, and your engaging coaching of the piece as we moved toward the performance.

The performance and workshop of the piece at the Housing Works facility was a great success for the students and especially for the residents attending the event. You struck a successful balance between meeting the pedagogical needs of the students and the need for enrichment for the residents who attended. The musical gestures were effective, giving the audience the chance to engage in their own interpretation and introduce them to sounds they may never have heard. As you moved through sections the audience remained engaged, with their interest held for the next step in their collective creative process. I had the pleasure of working with the audience while you coached the co-composers and I can say that the mood was energetic, fun and even engaged the most quiet members of the audience. Clearly all of your goals were met in this performance.