MASS Ensemble: A New Design in Music to Co-Headline The Concert For Mumbai in India
When one of India's leading media conglomerates, sought to present the Concert for Mumbai - a benefit performance to raise money for ambulances in Mumbai following the Mumbai attacks of 26/11 - they turned to Empire Entertainment, an international production company with access to the hottest names in international entertainment to help deliver talent. Charged with delivering an artist whose broad, international appeal would ensure ticket sales and sponsorships, Empire successfully delivered the innovative and world-renowned MASS Ensemble. MASS (which stands for Music Architecture Sound Sculpture) has literally created their own performance genre with their elegant and high impact blend of music, sculpture, dance and visual arts. Moreover, MASS were thrilled for the opportunity to show their solidarity and share their unique music with the people of Mumbai.
When asked at the press conference held the day before the show why they had agreed to perform, Founder and Creative Director William Close explained, "In 2000, I developed a musical instrument called the Earth Harp. The first time this instrument was set up, it strung from one side of a valley 1,000 feet across to the other side. It turned the earth itself into an instrument. As we tour around the planet and set this giant instrument up in concert halls, attach it to buildings and architecture, I believe it becomes a symbol of resonance of the earth and music for the earth… We all know how deep and powerful music is, and how transformative it is… To help situations such as the experiences that have happened to this amazing city on 26/11, [we] share our music and transform the negative energy [created by the terrorists]."
Four MASS members played this magnificent Earth Harp together on their first piece at Shanmukhananda Hall. This symbol of the world as an instrument of peace, of beauty, of harmonious sound sent a compelling opening message to the audience, and the momentum only magnified throughout the rest of the show. They revealed unique instrument inventions including the Aquatar, Drum Cloud, Drumbrella, Chime Sculpture and Wing Harp. They incorporated dramatic demonstrations of yoga in its most advanced form as Andrea Brook, Sarah Llewellyn and Peter Francyk expressed the music of MASS through movement. They even were able to collaborate with a phenomenal local tabla musician on a number of songs. Gasps of delight, spontaneous applause and shouts of praise from the audience added a soundtrack to the performance that only contributed to its powerful impact. On the final piece, Shawn Barry sang the hopeful melody of John Lennon's "Imagine," poignantly joined by the voices of over 1,000 audience members on the chorus. As MASS Ensemble took their final bow, the crowd leapt to its feet in a lengthy and enthusiastic standing ovation.
As one critic from RadioandMusic.com perfectly captured, "MASS Ensemble were mesmerizing for many reasons. One, they converted the entire hall in to an instrument - a huge earth harp, something which the Mumbai audience would have witnessed for the first time - the band sounded as if a philharmonic was at work. The multi talented musicians from MASS shifted from one instrument to another with ease and elegance. They sang, danced and even displayed some jaw dropping aerobics." With Empire Entertainment on hand to coordinate contracts, pre-production and on-site logistics, the Concert for Mumbai was a seamless, successful, and most importantly profitable experience for the client and the charitable beneficiary. As the crowd departed Shanmukhananda Hall that night, the words of John Lennon still floated in the air:You may say that I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one.
Empire Entertainment is an international event production company, providing entertainment solutions for clients all over the globe. Empire Entertainment is proud to have joined MASS in donating our time and service to this worthy event for the people of Mumbai. - - - Photographs by Deepak Dhuri / www.radioandmusic.com
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