Innovative indie orchestra Wild Up continues to plumb new depths in the catalog of underrecognized, underrecorded, and underperformed Julius Eastman with Gay Guerilla, the fifth stop in their journey to keep the late composer’s music alive for the listening public.
Originally written for four pianos and performed in 1980, the eight-part work begins with repetitive violins forming a minimalist mantra on which to build the edifice. Wild Up slowly, deliberately ratchet up the tension, until by the fourth section “Melt To and Back Again,” the instruments start to diverge, creating discordant harmonies that turn unease into concern, with only that insistent pulse holding the ensemble together. Before it can explode however, the music shifts to “Dies Irae,” taking on a defiant tone as the brass becomes more outspoken and dramatic. But then the music shifts again – on “A Mighty Fortress,” the steel spine settles, with less need to advertise its strength, becoming calmer, almost stately, without the need for aggression. As the strings and horns increase in volume, the final sections add both power and confidence to that vibe, taking on a celebratory pride, with the fist evolving into a wave that proclaims, “Here we are, here to stay, but open to being friends.”
Wild Up gives Gay Guerilla a powerful, moving performance, delivered with both sharp expertise and deep feeling for the intentions behind the music. Thirty-six years after his untimely death, Eastman offers a measure of hope to a divided world, while still insisting on the pride, dignity, and respect he – and his people – deserve.
