One of the ideas behind the development of our work has been to link artists together in their thinking and creation. We aim to underscore that art, not unlike the development of science is based on the advancement of a collective understanding of our world. The process of art is very much a collective process and experience, even if artists and non-artists alike are not accustomed to thinking this way. This idea is evident in our first recording, Mood Swing, described as representing a "collective aesthetic."

MNMP's instrumentation has varied. Recent performances have been with a 7 member group comprising: trumpet, French horn, cello, vibraphone, guitar, bass and drums. However, we have generated interest among composers with our other interesting ensemble configurations: a 16 member orchestra with four brass; saxophone quartet; string quartet; and rhythm section; an 11 member ensemble comprises: trumpet, French horn, bass trombone, soprano and alto saxophones, violin and viola, piano, guitar, bass, drums/percussion.

MNMP is seeking to expand our work with presenting organizations, state and local arts councils, and civic organizaitons to reach new audiences across the U.S. as well as abroad.

Site Specific Music Programs

What city people seek in public spaces are other people, comfort, and care, not seclusion and refuge.- William H. Whyte, Jr, Street Life Project -

We believe that works of art become most accessible when they are integrated with daily living, work, and play. Our mission includes designing high quality public art events for a broad audience and to enhance and explore innovative ways to increase public involvement in art experiences.
To meet this end, the MNMP offers performances in a variety of public forums--be it parks, plazas, lobbies, atriums etc-- with the intention of activiating these spaces.
Over the past five years, these performances involved the performance of “New York Anthems: Still Sounds Run Deep” a composition by Paul Nash, performed in a number of versions.
The first series involved performances in 1997 at Battery Park City promenade and Washington Square Park. The second series comprised nine performances from September 16th to October 21st 2000 at different sites Manhattan and Brooklyn. In 2001 two events were given during the summer of 2001, through the Trinity Church's Site Inspired series at Hudson Square in Soho. These events extended the scope of the events to include use of two way radio, live electronic tape and colored banners as additional elements. Subsequent events in 2002 included the Vietnam Veterans memorial in lower Manhattan and the Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City. In 2004 and 2005, MNMP has tightened its performance concept by introducing Art Baron as the conductor for the band, guiding the ensemble and individual performers through their interactive improvisations. Performances were held in Herald Square, Madison Square Park, Tompkins Square and the band shell at Central Park.

Part of the performance strategy of this work is to allow for the sounds and rhythms of the each public space to become material for an unfolding composition. Audiences that encountered these performances could contribute (whether knowingly or not) to the content of the work.
MNMP sets a number of artistic and social goals for such projects:

To offer an experience that melds cultural, social, and environmental elements.
To enhance appreciation of the architectural and landscape heritage of a setting
To use aesthetic communication in a setting integrated with everyday human activity.
To provide provide audiences a means to interact with a music performance;
To organize a musical performance through alternative means;
To change the reference of cultural icons; and
To reach a diverse audience.

All sites are chosen using the following interrelated criteria:

aesthetic appeal
contrasting architectural and landscape elements that offered opportunities for varied placement of musicians across each site
public use for recreation or public use during the work day

The following maps provide an example of the placement of the musicians at different sites.

Battery Park/Castle Clinton Central Park/The Lake

In partnership with the New York City Department of Parks, MMNP conducted a series of nine site specific musical/sonic events at eight New York City parks. Audiences would be able to encounter and interact with a musical process that models ideas of "evolution" and "learning" over the course of an hour. The positioning and lack of sight lines of the musicians minimizes the likelihood of rhythmic synchronization minimizes the possibility of visual contact between all the performers. They keep together in time in the score through the use of stopwatches.
A score provides for rules governing the interaction amongst the musicians, providing performers cues to listen, imitate and develop sonic material from the sounds and rhythms at the site. The musical score provides a syntax by which the musical personalities are defined, differentiated and develop in parallel. Special symbols in the score cue the performers to listen, imitate and/or develop ambient materials from the sounds and rhythms at the site. These ambient silences and sounds including the those produced by the audience and passerby become an integral part of the event.
Finally, fragments of music specific to the occasion and place (such as classic New York anthems) are injected into the mix of sounds to provide an additional dimension to the performance.
The events took place at follows:

Fort Tryon Park @ Linden Terrace
Castle Clinton, Battery Park
Union Square Park
Soldiers and Sailors Monument
Prospect Park @ Nethermead Meadow
Bryant Park
Central Park @ Shakespeare Statue & Literary Walk
City Hall Park @ South Gate at the fountain
Central Park @ The Lake

The events, abetted in general by excellent weather and above seasonal temperatures for audiences to listen to and in some cases interact with music that enhanced the urban environment of the city. MNMP will conduct events at other public sites to enhance appreciation of our architectural and landscape heritage.At each site people from every walk of life experienced a new form of public art. Many of these people were interviewed and expressed their views and feelings in encountering this event. Some of their comments are included here.

"I love music in the city and on the streets, opening up people's eyes a little bit, you know? It'll go back to work with a much different head than when I left.
The event? It's funny I was just thinking about that. During my break, I like to come out hear to get a little bit of peace of mind outside of work. I find it very relaxing. I get to contemplate how my life is going. It was an excellent day for an event like this to happen.... "
"I don't know. I just got here. I heard the strains of Take Me Out to the Ball game. Sounds interesting. Interesting arranging of the musicians around the fountain. I'll listen and then I'll have to go back to work. Does this have something to do with the Subway Series?"

"It's a very neat idea. I hear all the different sounds and I didn't know what it was and then I finally heard the different parts and then I thought it's an interesting concert. It's just a very nice fit to the park. It's very cool"
These performances are made possible through the generous support of New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), the Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) and the Ford Foundation.

Our purpose is to promote the best of today’s avant guard jazz composers and creators of contemporary
music through accessible creative arts projects.