Scratch Orchestra Reenactment, 2009-ongoing
Epitomizing the transient political idealism of the late 1960s, the Scratch Orchestra sought to rethink music in socially activist terms. Welcoming any player, regardless of experience or occupation, the group used collaborative and improvisation-based procedures in attempt to cooperatively bridge the gap between professional and amateur, art and everyday life. Democratically run by the players, in theory if not always in practice, it was at once a performing music ensemble, musical training-program, and political think-tank. And fitting to its democratic aims, the orchestra was founded in a written declaration--the “Draft Constitution.”
Rather than attempting a reconstruction of events--à la Civil War reenactments--the Scratch Orchestra Reenactment uses this Draft Constitution as its script. By following the instructions and practices laid out in their manifesto, the Reenactment theatrically revisits this radical and inventive group by taking on its premise: to pool our resources and assemble for action.
The group met weekly in Boston during August and September 2009, over 65 people performed in the ensemble.
See "Scratch Music" scores made by orchestra members HERE.
See the complete project website HERE.
