Gravitation (2021)

Overview

Composer Nolan Stolz performs the 2020 “COVID” version of his composition Gravitation, an open instrumentation piece for any 5 to 8 performers. Instead of having several musicians unsafely “uncomfortably crowd around one another” on stage like in the original version, this “COVID” version was performed by a single musician overdubbing all of the parts. Stolz uses the medium of video to present his composition in a way impossible in live performance. This version includes two electric guitars, two bass guitars, three synthesizers, drum set, found objects/percussion (wood against wood, metal against metal, and wood against metal). Completed in 2021, it was recorded and filmed in Spartanburg, SC and Belle, MO during a summer 2020 artist residency at Osage Arts Community.