‘mid the steep sky’s commotion (world premiere)
by Joshua Stamper
‘mid the steep sky’s commotion is the second chapter of Joshua Stamper’s four-part Elements series, exploring the enigmatic and impenetrable quality of wind, its singular and intimate relationship to the detritus of a city, and the ways in which that detritus exists as an echo of the movements, relationships, and dreams of the city of Philadelphia. Joshua Stamper’s unique, colorful, evolving music captures ‘what the wind says’ in this first collaboration with The Crossing.
Wind is the epitome of mystery: it is a force of both destruction and preservation; its origins are inscrutable and its destination is unknown. Its presence echoes through our poems and dreams, yet its patterns and path remain impenetrable—invisible save for its effect on the world around it. – Joshua Stamper