Still Small Voice this Friday

The Episcopal Church of St. Paul and St. James
57 Olive St. (at Chapel St.), New Haven, (203) 562-2143
Joseph Higgins: Still Small Voice
Friday, Sept. 22, 2006, 7:30 p.m.

Joseph Higgins has wanted do a show involving projections and a live musical score for a long time. He plans to realize that ambition this Friday at the Episcopal Church of St. Paul and St. James in New Haven.

Higgins says he got the idea to use the church for an installation piece a little over a year ago. "I attended a performance by [oboist] Libby van Cleve at St. Paul and St. James. I walked away from the performance saying 'I have to do a show at this church,'" he recalls in a phone interview with Connecticut Art Scene.

Higgins did a treatment of the show, Still Small Voice, for a committee of the church and won their approval. Viewers often tell him that they see something "spiritual" in his work, Higgins says. It is a response he finds gratifying.

The installation combines light sculptures, video and still image projections along with a live score by Higgins. While he usually plays "abstract jazz," Higgins describes the score for Still Small Voice as "ethereal. It has overtones or hints of classical music in the straight piano parts. One section is quite jarring because of the nature of the video that it is sequenced with." Higgins will be assisted by chief technical engineer Maria Satterwhite, chief musical engineer Peter Edwards and video operator Jo Ann Moran.

I ask if Still Small Voice might be analogous to the "Happenings" during the 1960's.

"'Happenings' were interesting. They were probably a little more spontaneous," he says. This event has been in the works for "a little over a year. The show itself will last about 45 minutes. But it will be a happening, alright!"

The doors open at 6:30 p.m. The performance starts at 7:30 p.m and there will be no admittance after 7:30 p.m. Admission is $10, and $5 for seniors and students.