April 20, 2013
4:00-8:00pm

A site specific performance created by Artist in Residence Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR) in collaboration with Marc Bamuthi Joseph and Troy Bennefield of the UH Spirit of Houston Marching Band.

En Masse is a four-hour “deconstructed parade” featuring original music by Daniel Bernard Roumain commissioned by the Mitchell Center for the UH Spirit of Houston Marching Band. Hundreds of band performers will spread out around Discovery Green park, creating a cross between a flash mob, a pep rally, a processional and a pop-up recital. Visitors may stay for an hour or experience the entire musical marathon, following band members on their various paths.

Bring a picnic blanket and spend the afternoon in the park to help celebrate Discovery Green’s fifth anniversary. Following the performance of En Masse, stay for a screening of Drumline at 8:30pm.

Daniel Bernard Roumain’s notes about the music:
“En Masse Studies & Etudes are 12 five-minute works for 5 to 500 musicians. The music is a systematic, comprehensive look at contrapuntal music, with an emphasis on Haitian and African-American musical styles, namely Kompa and soul music. Written on five staves of music, the musicians are encouraged to read from the score, freely determining tempo, dynamics, and other parameters. Conceived for marching bands or other large ensembles, En Masse Studies & Etudes is a companion piece to Roumain’s Hip-Hop Studies & Etudes, and serves as a composer’s response to Bach’s seminal The Art of the Fugue.” En Masse Studies & Etudes will premiere at En Masse on April 20th at Discovery Green.

LOCATION: Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney
ADMISSION: Free
PARKING: Click here for directions and parking information

Made possible in part through the City’s Initiative Grant Program of the Houston Arts Alliance.