Composers: Symphony of One

A lithe figure moves barefoot through the semidarkness of a candlelit hall, stroking an outlandish array of gongs, cymbals, chimes and timpani. Amid the swelling percussion, a bamboo flute emits a low plaint. Sound ebbs and flows, rising to a crescendo, then dwindling to mystic silence.

A concert of "Spontaneous Sound" by Christopher Tree nearly always creates a mood of tranquillity and introspection, whether it be given in a bar or behind bars. From Kenny's Pub in Manhattan to California's San Quentin Prison. Tree has mesmerized audiences with the elemental tones he...

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