Strings & Serpents

Strings and Serpents is an international collaboration featuring two pianos, two kotos and animation. Projected during the performance is an animated film depicting The Rainbow Serpent Mythology. Created by Andy Milne and commissioned by The Herb Alpert School of Music at CalArts, the project premiered in October 2014 at New York’s Lincoln Center. It features Milne with French pianist Benoit Delbecq, Japanese koto masters Tsugumi Yamamoto and Yoko Reikano Kimura, and Japanese animator Saki Murotani. The music blends traditional and modern koto textures with the language of jazz and contemporary improvisation. A synthesis of Japanese and Western structures in terms of melody, form, improvisational language and rhythm, the work merges musical and visual forms into a unified experience.

The animation employs 2-D and 3-D computer-generated imagery (CGI) inspired by the music. The story is told visually, without dialogue or subtitles, and elegantly projects a visual composition that experiments with color, shape, texture, light and motion to enrich the relationship between the pianos and kotos. Strings & Serpents was created through the support of The Japan Foundation and New Music USA. In 2019 they will release their debut recording and tour North America.

official press materials

Highlighted Past Events

Date
Greenwich House - Sound it Out
New York, NY, US
46 Barrow St
New York, NY
US
(212) 242-4770


Date
Yamaha Piano Salon
New York, NY, US
Yamaha Piano Salon 689 5th Ave., 3rd Floor
New York, NY
US
Date
Musée de Civilisation - Quebec City Jazz Festival
Quebec City, PQ, CA
85 Rue Dalhousie
Quebec City, PQ
CA
Date
Flynn Space
Burlington, VT, US
153 Main Street
Burlington, VT
US
Date
Packard Hall - Colorado College
Colorado Springs, CO, US
5 West Cache la Poudre Street
Colorado Springs, CO
US
Date
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA, US
California Institute of the Arts 24700 McBean Pkwy
Valencia, CA
US
Date
REDCAT - Disney Hall
Los Angeles, CA, US
631 West 2nd St.
Los Angeles, CA
US
213-237-2800
Date
PianoForte Foundation
Chicago, IL, US
1335 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL
US
312-479-3598
Date
Gorell Recital Hall, (2nd fl - John Sutton Hall) - Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Indiana, PA, US
1011 South Drive
Indiana, PA
US
724-357-1313,
Date
Rosenberger Auditorium, Halbritter Center for the Performing Arts, Juniata College
Huntingdon, PA, US
1900 Moore St.
Huntingdon, PA
US
(814) 641-3608
Date
David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center
New York, NY, US
61 W 62 St.
New York, NY
US
(212) 875-5350
Date
California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA, US
California Institute of the Arts 24700 McBean Pkwy
Valencia, CA
US