Hans Tammen's 3rd Eye Orchestra at Univ. of the Streets

Hans Tammen's Third Eye Orchestra

Hans Tammen uses Earle Brown's open form composition idea as a starting point to create a large multi-movement piece, thoroughly composed and purely improvised at the same time, inspired by west african roots of Jazz, Miles Davis' Bitches Brew, Steve Coleman, and Stravinsky's layering or Steve Reich's phase techniques. Drawing from a repertoire of numerous pre-conceived musical units, the conductor is free to choose which one to play next, and in which instrumental combination. Merging improvisational aspects with open form composition, the conductor uses the orchestra as an instrument, while each performer shapes the music through virtuosic improvisation and the individual stylization of musical performance.

Tammen gets his thrill out of exploring the world of sounds, by utilizing technology from his hybrid guitar/computer setup to planetarium projectors, guitar robots and disklavier pianos. His Third Eye Orchestra concept was first presented in 2004 on Canada's Sound Symposium Festival, with a take on Miles Davis' Bitches Brew period. From the first original work presented on 2005's "Jazz on the Volga" Festival in Yaroslavl, Russia, numerous works for various kinds of ensembles were presented in the US, Bulgaria, Russia, Ukraine, Mexico and Germany.

Hans Tammen received composer commissions for the Third Eye Orchestra from the American Composers Forum, underwritten by the Jerome Fondation, and the New York State Council On The Arts (NYSCA). The CD was produced with funds from the New York State Music Funds.

The core ensemble in New York City consists of string quartet, wind/brass quartet, two pianos/keyboards, bass, percussion, voice and live sound processing, often enhanced by one or more guests. The ensemble released a CD of a 2006 Roulette performance as "Antecedent / Consequent" on the Innova label. All About Jazz called the music "nothing short of breathtaking", and "a masterpiece of musical evocation".