SOUND/PATH/FIELD by Eastman composer Robert Morris was written from January to August 2006 on a commission from the Society for New Music in celebration of the Society's 35th anniversary. The composition is a multimedia, multiple ensemble piece to be performed outside on the Quadrangle of Syracuse University on Sunday, September 24 at 3 pm. (In conjunction with the performance, a symposium on "Music and Nature," organized by the Syracuse University Fine Arts Department will be held on September 23-24.) Funding for the commission was provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Hanson Institute for American Music, the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, and Syracuse University.

SOUND/PATH/FIELD lasts 90 minutes and is scored for four choirs, three instrumental ensembles, contemporary music ensemble, organ, and puppet theater. The ensembles are stationed and play independently at various locations on the Quad, moving from one place to another over the duration of the piece. Two events occur indoors in Hendricks Chapel, a concert piece for organ entitled "Canonical Minutes" and a composition for the Society for New Music Ensemble, entitled "Society Sound." The entire piece is organized and coordinated by a cycle of notes that emanate from the University Chimes in Crouse College.

The audience is invited to move freely from one event to another as the piece unfolds and attend the performances of the two concert pieces in the chapel. They may wish to follow guides who provide a musical path through the piece. At certain times the puppet theater will perform installations that herald special musical events here and there in the performance space. The audience will receive programs that contain a list of events giving the times and locations including a map of the quad.

To see and/or download the program and the map click HERE.