Tuning the Air has come to an end. Seven years. 225 shows in 4 venues. Nearly 100 pieces of repertoire performed, brought to you by a company that over 7 years included 45 individuals. It has been quite an experience. Everyone is a little sad to let it go, of course, but very energized that we have accomplished so much and were able to go out on a high note.

What will come next? No one knows. Stay in touch.

Check out Tuning the Air’s History:

• Tuning the Air Performances
• Tuning the Air Repertoire over the years
• Tuning the Air Company Members through history
• Tuning the Air before it was Tuning the Air
• The birth of the Tuning the Air concept

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The countdown: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

September 21, 2011

Thursday nights, from October 6 through December 15, will be your final opportunities to experience Tuning the Air, which the Seattle Times has called “magical notes around the circumference of Fremont Abbey” and “one of the most dreamily immersive acoustic experiences you can have in Seattle.” This season will mark the completion of seven years of Tuning the Air; a total of 225 performances for this constantly evolving production.

In 2005, Tuning the Air began in the intimate and homey setting of the Seattle Circle Performance Studio on the 3rd floor of Trinity Church in Ballard, ten guitarists in a circle and the audience lounging on pillows and cushions on the floor in the center. The company honed their craft and developed this thoroughly unique multi-dimensional production. In late 2007, Tuning the Air briefly moved to the more traditional theatrical setting of the Capitol Hill Arts Center. Finally, in early 2008, the production found a home in the newly renovated Fremont Abbey Arts Center; for the first eighteen months in the downstairs Café space, and since 2009 upstairs in the breathtaking Great Hall.

There may be only 10 final shows, but it “ain’t over till it’s over!” During the summer break there has been all kinds of activity, and for this season the team has put together a set of entirely new music, ranging from uniquely “Tuning the Air” takes on familiar songs to original compositions written specifically for this group. A number of guest artists and other surprises are in the works. And, as always, we will be taking full advantage of the 360-degree experience that only performance in the circle can create.

THIS IS (seriously) YOUR LAST CHANCE. Come join us. Bring a friend.

TUNING THE AIR Final Season
Every Thursday October 6 through December 15, 2011*
8pm, doors open at 7:45
Fremont Abbey Arts Center
4272 Fremont Ave N, Seattle
$10 at the door
*There will no performance Thanksgiving Day, Thursday November 24

Want to learn a little more about what you’ve been missing?
Check out Tuning the Air’s History:

Tuning the Air Performances
Tuning the Air Repertoire over the years
Tuning the Air Company Members through history
Tuning the Air before it was Tuning the Air
The birth of the Tuning the Air concept

The workshop culminated on Sunday night with a feast. Food for 20 people was cooked at my apartment and shuttled over. From time to time during the meal, the seminar director would call for music. That was our cue. Jaxie Binder, Taylor Sherman, Travis Metcalf, Bob Williams and I would rise, leave the room, collect our guitars, briefly discuss and come up with a 2 or 3 piece “setlist”. We entered the room, took our place and played. This happened 3 times during the evening.

The third time we were called upon to play, we chose for our final selection “Eye of the Needle”, which is also known as “Guitar Craft Theme III”, and is within the repertoire of anyone who has been involved with Guitar Craft for a period of time.

We entered, and performed our first selection. When it came time for “Eye of the Needle”, we spread out and surrounded the audience – to the extent that 5 players can “surround” a banquet table set up for 20 diners. The effect was immediate and profound. Of course, the composition has that quality and effect for anyone who can enter in to it, but there was something in this presentation that seemed to bring the music alive in a very particular way. Collecting ourselves outside of the room after the performance, we had the very clear sense that something momentous had just occurred.

It had been a busy weekend, and my computer had been off as part of the seminar. My journal for that weekend, very brief and written in the wee hours of Monday morning, reflects a recognition of the significance of the moment:

I will also never forget looking up as five of us “surrounded” an audience of 15 people and saying to myself, “hey look! A Guitar Craft Circle!” It was just for a moment, but it was as real as real can be.

Writing about it nearly 7 years after the fact, I honestly cannot recall whose idea it was to present EotN in this way; and that seems just as well. I also don’t remember whether we made the decision out in the hall before the performance, or if it was a spontaneous impulse that came up in the moment. It set in motion a line of exploration and inquiry that brought 10 players together in February of 2005 to test the viability of formal performance in this format, and in the following April Tuning the Air was debuted.

Curt Golden

The 2011 Fall Season is tentatively scheduled for October 6 – December 15, 2011. Big news coming, so stay tuned for details as the pieces fall into place.

It was quite a season for Tuning the Air. An expanded performance team – 10 guitarists – continuing to explore to sonic possibilities of performance in the circular, surround-sound format; what the Seattle Times called “magical notes around the circumference of Fremont Abbey.” New material is always being added, including two new compositions that were debuted in June. Ambient guitarist Joel Palmer continues to “tune the space” as the audience arrives and settles in, as well as playing on several pieces within the performance itself. Joel’s preshow performances are available for listening online.

The April 14 show featured one of the Seattle Circle Guitar School’s classes: 15 4th graders from the Salmon Bay Kids Guitar Circle served as the “opening act” for the show. Their performance can be viewed online. Several shows have included guest artists: guitarist Tony Geballe sat in for the first two shows of the season, as well as the Salmon Bay Kids Guitar Circle show; oboist Darlene Franz performed with us throughout June.

Thanks from the Tuning the Air team for over 6 years of support. 215 performances… and counting. We cannot do it without you!

Performing that evening were:

Jaxie Binder
Andrew Boscardin
Chris Gibson
Curt Golden
Dean Jensen
Greg Meredith
Travis Metcalf
Taylor Sherman
Howard Snyder
Bob Williams

Of the 10 guitarists who performed in show #0, 7 are still with the company and will be performing in show #225, the final performance of Tuning the Air’s seven year run.

It was some time after this show, when the commitment was made to pursue this project for an extended run, that we arrived at the name, “Tuning the Air”. During the naming process, founding producer Frank Sheldon presented us with one of several ultimatums: this one to find and agree upon the right name for the production, or else it would default to “Guitar-O-Sphere”.

Here is the setlist for Tuning the Air #0. Where it indicates “shift”, certain players would get up and move to different seats in a highly choreographed maneuver, in order to be in a better position to play particular pieces of music. This harkened back to the very first guitar circle performance which took place in the ballroom of the mansion at Claymont Court near Charles Town, WV, on March 30, 1985. TTA Producer Frank Sheldon had been in the audience for that performance, and was much impressed with this simple and elegant gesture, which he felt demonstrated a level of intentionality and attention to detail in every aspect of the show.

Music for Large Guitar Ensemble
February 21, 2005
Seattle, WA, USA

Circulation in C Major
Voices of Ancient Children (Curt, Travis, Chris)
Batrachomyomachy
Not My Sharona
~~shift~~
Where Is The Nurse
Growing Circle
Butterfly
~~shift~~
Lylli in Africa (Greg Meredith)
How Many Times? (The Extended Wilsons)
Corelli Giga
~~shift~~
Where It Goes
One of a Thousand Regrets
Prelude XXII in G Minor
Eye of the Needle
Asturias
49 Notes

It has been quite a season for Tuning the Air. New material, new players, a performance with the Salmon Bay Kids Guitar Circle. Where did the time go?

There is only four three two ONE more show: June 9, 16, 23 and 30. One more opportunity to hear what the Seattle Times has called “magical notes around the circumference of Fremont Abbey.”

But we are not resting on our laurels. For these final shows we will be joined by oboist Darlene Franz; always a treat. On June 9 Tuning the Air debuted a new composition by Greg Meredith which features Darlene! And that is just the beginning.

Closing Night!
Thursday June 30
8 pm, doors open at 7:45
Fremont Abbey Arts Center
4272 Fremont Ave N, Seattle
$10 at the door

On Facebook? Go to the Tuning the Air Closing Night event and RSVP!