By Julian Ruiz
KU Presents! will be closing out the fall semester with the musical stylings of William Close and the Earth Harp Collective. The music troupe’s unique take on musical instrumentation will be featured at Schaeffer auditorium on Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m.
William Close and the Earth Harp Collective’s brand of music will transform Schaeffer into an actual instrument. Designed by Close in 1999, the “Earth Harp’s” strings begin on the stage and stretch throughout the venue, ending at the back of the theater. This revolutionary design is meant to immerse the audience into the music like never before, as well as represent renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s quote, “architecture is frozen music.”
Close’s background in architecture from the Art Institute of Chicago has taken him and his musical group across the world, from the Colosseum in Rome to New York’s Lincoln Center. He also holds the record for world’s largest instrument by the World Record Academy and has been featured as a finalist on NBC’s America’s Got Talent.
Being the final KU Presents! performance before winter break, William Close and the Earth Harp Collective will play a variety of classic holiday music: “Silent Night,” “Little Drummer Boy” and “Carol of the Bells.”
Prior to Close’s performance, students of the KU Society of Physics will be hosting an event called “Making Waves” from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. The presentation will provide an in depth look at the physics of
music. The event will also feature a grand finale by the KU Tesla Coil Orchestra.
Before the main performance, the Grim Planetarium will be hosting a special laser holiday presentation that is sure to get everyone into the holiday spirit. The laser light show will take place at both 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. To acquire tickets to the light show, contact the KU Presents! box office.
While the William Close and the Earth Harp Collective event is sold out, there are still tickets available for the “Making Waves” presentation as well as the laser holiday show. Make sure to come out and support KU Presents! in its final performance variety of the semester.
