The latest installation in Claire Chase’s 24-year commissioning initiative, Density 2036, is The Holy Liftoff, a large-scale new work by the legendary composer Terry Riley. Riley began composing The Holy Liftoff in 2022 as an open score sketchbook brimming with colorful drawings that were intended to be realized by Chase (on multiple flutes) in collaboration with any number of additional musicians. Over the following two years, the sketches evolved into a multidimensional work that now combines extensive through-composed material – heard in this rendition as an eight-voice chorus of low and high flutes, seven of which are pre-recorded and one of which Chase plays live – as well as graphic notation, evocative artwork, and Riley’s signature open-form scoring that can be freely interpreted by the performers in variable durations and realizations. For the world premiere at Public Records, Chase partners with the dynamic JACK Quartet in a 60-minute rendition realized in collaboration with Samuel Clay Birmaher. “When I improvised the first 16 bars of ‘The Holy Liftoff’ the melody and the chords whispered its name while simultaneously urging me to make drawings of the experience. The drawings had angels and flying creatures and all the energies were rising up into a surrealistic skyscape…This piece could only have been written for Claire Chase.” —Terry Riley This performance is presented at Public Records as part of Bang on a Can's Long Play festival, available to Long Play "Supporter" pass holders. https://bangonacan.org/long-play-2024/ The full 2024 Long Play festival features over 55 concerts May 3-5 in Downtown Brooklyn, including Soundwalk Collective with Patti Smith, Detroit techno pioneer Jeff Mills, and Steve Reich’s legendary work Music for 18 Musicians. Full Festival passes, which also include access to all shows at Public Records, are now available through BAM. https://www.bam.org/programs/2024/long-play Limited tickets will be sold at the door. Public Records aims to provide a safer space for all. We reject all forms of aggressive behavior including, Racism, Misogyny, Transphobia, Homophobia, Genderphobia, Religious Bigotry, and hatred or discrimination of any kind. Consent is paramount, please respect the personal space of our patrons and staff. If you, or someone around you is being harassed. Please notify one of our staff members immediately. Anyone found in violation of our rules and safer space policy will be removed from the venue. To share feedback about an incident regarding harassment that happened in our space, please email hello@publicrecords.nyc. Presented by Public Records. This is a 21+ event