Selections from Terry Riley's "Holy Liftoff" (2022-25)

"The Holy Liftoff" (2022-25) by Terry Riley

Curated and hosted by Professor Claire Chase

The iconic American composer Terry Riley (b. 1935) began The Holy Liftoff (2022-2025)* as an open-score sketchbook of brilliantly colored drawings for multiple flutes, commissioned by Claire Chase for her multi-year Density 2036 project. Through a realization by Samuel Clay Birmaher, these sketches have since evolved into a multidimensional work blending through-composed material, graphic notation, evocative artwork, and Riley’s signature open-form scoring. Heard now as an eight-voice chorus of flutes (seven pre-recorded and one live, played by Chase), The Holy Lift off is joined on the program by Riley’s Pulsing Lifters (2022) and Pulsefield 3 (2025), both expanding the modular, improvisatory spirit of the larger project: Pulsing Lifters reimagined for keyboards by Alex Peh, and Pulsefield 3 with its vivid drawings culminating in a return to song—“the oldest and most urgent mode of music-making,” as Chase notes. For this performance, she is joined by Parker Quartet, pianist Alex Peh, saxophonist Neil Leonard, and special guests from the Berklee Interdisciplinary Arts Institute, the Harvard New Music Ensemble, and Students in Contemporary Chamber Music.

Featuring:

• Parker Quartet
• Alex Peh, piano
• Neil Leonard, saxophone
• Special Guests from Berklee Interdisciplinary Arts Institute
• The Harvard New Music Ensemble (MUSIC 180)
• Students in Contemporary Chamber Music (MUSIC 186)

Program:

“Pulsing Lifters” (2024) for large ensemble
Alex Peh, piano
Neil Leonard, saxophone
Special Guests from Berklee Interdisciplinary Arts Institute
The Harvard New Music Ensemble (MUSIC 180)
Students in Contemporary Chamber Music (MUSIC 186) 

Selections from “The Holy Liftoff” (2022-2024) For flute and string quartet
Realization by Samuel Clay Birmaher
Claire Chase, flutes
Parker Quartet

*”The Holy Liftoff” is the twelfth cycle of Claire Chase’s Density 2036 project.