PET THE TIGER /
Dan PlonseyBay Area instrument inventor
David Samas leads Pet The Tiger, a collective ensemble primarily of instrument inventors, augmented with original ceramic flutes and occasionally Samas' voice, the unique quality of their sound recalling Harry Partch or Harry Bertoia, here in four major works of multiple parts performed in a mixture of composed and improvised approaches; fascinating
Dan Plonsey is a composer of new music for (in his words) “mostly unprocessed real instruments, played by real people I know who happen to be around.” He received an MA in 1988 from Mills College. Highly prolific, Plonsey began composing in 1978 and has completed several hundred pieces. Most of these works have been for Daniel Popsicle, his 10- to 20-person ensemble of varying instrumentation. He has also worked with Bang on a Can and has performed as a saxophonist with Anthony Braxton, Tom Waits, and others.