Under the Overpass
“With vision and verve, Resonance Ensemble has repeatedly proved that choral music can work under pandemic restrictions—they even sounded sublime when they wore masks for their Under the Overpass concerts. ”
All of Portland is a stage…
“Under the Overpass explores what art looks like in this new world.” — Damien Geter, Resonance Artistic Advisor
“With vision and verve, Resonance Ensemble has repeatedly proved that choral music can work under pandemic restrictions—they even sounded sublime when they wore masks for their Under the Overpass concerts.” —Portland Mercury
“The Oregon classical vocal group most known for its responsiveness to social issues, Resonance Ensemble, responded to the shutdown by going visual, in a series of safely distanced outdoor performances around Portland.” — Oregon ArtsWatch
About Under the Overpass Under the Overpass celebrates Resonance’s hometown of Portland, Oregon, and the space it provides for Resonance artists to continue to create. Starting in the summer of 2020, singers and spoken word artists met in acoustic spaces around the city - six feet apart, masked, and yet together. Viewers will experience music performed in these gritty, hauntingly beautiful spaces.
These five episodes are performed by Resonance artists, and produced in collaboration with Oh! Creative. The series celebrates the city of Portland with featured local artists, musicians, and famous Portland Bridges.
Each video in the Under the Overpass series showcases a different bridge in Portland. The performances, which are no more than six minutes long, are released and then archived on the organization’s YouTube channel for free, with a complete presentation of all the episodes available worldwide in June 2021
Co-Artistic Advisor Dr. Shohei Kobayashi (center) with Resonance singers Onry (left) and Vakare Petroliunaite (right). Photo Credit: Kenton Waltz
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We believe that art is a fundamental human right and must be accessible, now more than ever. Please consider becoming a season supporter today and support the work we are doing right now that will allow us to bring music to our community safely and free of charge.
At the end of each video, please take time to recognize all of our supporters - the ones who made this possible.
Thank you for the continued support from our community!
EPISODE LISTING
Oct 28, 2020
Episode 1: Hawthorne Bridge (pilot project)
Four Resonance singers fight through a windy summer evening under the Hawthorne Bridge to perform a wistful version of Dr. Ysaye Barnwell’s “Wanting Memories.” WATCH NOW
Nov 19, 2020
Episode 2: Ross Island Bridge with Kingdom Sound Gospel Choir
Acclaimed artist Onry joins singers from Kingdom Sound and Resonance, along with pianist David Saffert, under the trestles of the Ross Island Bridge, to perform a stunning rendition of Ben E. King’s “Stand by Me.” WATCH NOW
Jan 27, 2021
Episode 3: St. Johns Bridge with Kingdom Sound Gospel Choir
A Resonance octet sings a dynamic version of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” under the St. Johns Bridge at Cathedral Park. WATCH NOW
April 28, 2021
Episode 4: Sanctuaries at Dawson Park with Third Angle New Music and EDPA2
Resonance partners with Third Angle New Music and EDPA2 to bare Portland’s redlining history and present a sneak peek at Darrell Grant’s soon-to-be-premiered chamber opera Sanctuaries WATCH NOW
June 25, 2021
Episode 5: Tillikum Crossing Bridge
The series culminates in the world premiere of a new commission by Damien Geter for a Resonance octet. Geter sets a poem about memory and hope for a phoenix rising by the beloved late American conductor and honored laureate music director of the Oregon Symphony, James DePreist. In addition to marking this moment of transition from our pandemic time into what we hope will become a more just new normal, this work is dedicated to the victims of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre, that we may remember that appalling violence of 100 years ago and dedicate ourselves to combating racism in our own time. WATCH NOW
““I missed Resonance so much. It was wonderful to sing with my friends again.” ”