Our featured artist for the 2008 Utah Arts Festival is the MASS Ensemble.

• The Earth Harp Jam Sessions - Nightly 8:00-8:45 pm at the Round with Bill Close, artistic director
• Earth Harp Performance - Sunday night 9:30-11:00pm at the Amphitheater Stage
• Yoga Workshop with Andrea Brook - Sunday morning 9:30-11:00 am at the Amphitheater Stage area

From their website (www.massensemble.com): 

MASS is an internationally renowned performance group that combines the creative forces of artists, musicians, composers and choreographers. Through an exciting blend of sculpture, music, dance and the visual arts, MASS continues to delight audiences throughout the U.S. and abroad.

MASS Ensemble is known for large-scale instruments and kinetic performances. The Earth Harp, "The World's Largest Stringed Instrument" and other invented instruments are unique to MASS, as they were designed and created by Artistic Director, Bill Close. The giant sculptural instruments provide a landscape in which the artists perform.

The long stringed instruments are played in a unique and imaginative manner. The performers wear gloves with rosin on the fingertips and the strings are stroked rather then plucked or bowed. The sound quality of the instruments is astounding, and just one instrument is akin to a whole symphonic string section.

Architectural based installations often provide the backdrop for a performance. It is common for MASS to have the bridge of the instrument resting on the stage, as the strings span out over the audience and attach to a building. The Architecture becomes an important part of the instrument as MASS is literally playing a building or concert hall. This puts the audience inside the instrument, providing a unique interactive experience!

The combination of violin, cello, bass, flute, dance, sculptural drums and other invented instruments create a powerful musical experience that is balanced by the symphonic sounds of the Long Stringed Instruments. The musical compositions explore tonal and melodic dynamics that reference modern, pop and classical genres.

MASS performances are a visual and musical experience, rooted in tradition while pushing the experimental edge to new level. 

Yoga Workshop with Andrea Brook

Sunday morning, June 29, 2008 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.

Led by MASS Ensemble Associate Director, Andrea Brook, with live music by MASS Ensemble. In this truly unique and amazing 1 1/2 hour workshop participants will practice blending yogic movement and focused intention with the musical vibration of live long-string and percussive music.

Participants explore the energetic vibration of their chakras, wheels of energy that offer insight into the physical, emotional and psychological aspects of oneself. The yoga practice will take place under the strings of the Earth Harp. The sonic vibration of these long-strings create high frequency ascending overtones and healing harmonics that not only provide the perfect backdrop for yoga practice but also sublime one's energy through the chakras promoting physical and energetic health and creative inspiration.

Andrea Brook (www.yogagirl.com) has been teaching yoga in Los Angeles for 10 years and is currently opening a yoga studio and balance living club in Miami, Florida (www.greenmonkey.net).

 Download the UAF Yoga Flyer.