Welcome to the Fisher Ensemble, an experimental music group

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About
Known for its unique ability to conjure austerely sensual worlds, the Fisher Ensemble is a Seattle-based performance troupe led by composer Garrett Fisher. The Ensemble's eclectic mix of vocalists, movers, actors and musicians harness ritual and myth to bridge ancient and modern forms. 
 
Considered to be "a star of Seattle's new music scene" by The New Yorker, Garrett Fisher grew up in Michigan and Maine, and as part his parents' sabbaticals, lived in Istanbul, London and Paris. He studied at Oberlin College and Conservatory, and in 1995 he moved to Seattle, where he formed the Fisher Ensemble and studied classical Indian singing with Shujaat Khan. 
 
With frequent collaborators Christy Fisher, AC Petersen, Ken Cerniglia, and Louise McCagg, the Fisher Ensemble has created several performance pieces that have been presented at The Chapel, Consolidated Works, the Nippon Kan Theater, and On the Boards in Seattle, WA; HERE Arts Center and Judson Memorial Church in New York City; and several venues in between. 
 
Highlights of the last ten years include the release of The Passion of Saint Thomas More on BIS, which is included in the label's 30-CD/30-year commemorative edition, and the production of Psyche designated "Best of '08" by The Seattle Magazine.
Garrett Fisher and the Ensemble have received support from 4culture, the Allied Arts Foundation, the ASCAP Foundation/Morton Gould Young Composer Award, Bossack Heilbron Foundation, Centrum Arts Colony, City Artists, the King County Arts Commission, Puffin Foundation, the Seattle Arts Commission and the Wiggly World Foundation. 
Projects
Psyche

Psyche (2008) 
Music Garrett Fisher | Words Thom Schramm 
Choreography/Co-Direction Christy Fisher | Puppets Tori Ellison 
Co-Direction/Dramaturgy Ken Cerniglia
Psyche combines music, movement and life-size puppets to tell the story of wrathful Aphrodite's quest to ruin Psyche, who is considered to be more beautiful than even the goddess herself. 
"'Psyche takes the prize for disarming novelty...[Fisher] freely mixes theatrical and musical traditions East and West and genres, breaking down barriers with abandon and considerable deftness. " --The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 
"Garrett Fisher and his first-rate team of collaborators throw a lot at you in his latest opera, a Greek-myth feast of song, dance spoken word, beats, electric viola, and elaborate puppet/costumes" --The Seattle Weekly
"Conflict is his [Fisher's] theme, not his method; his music coexists with other arts in a harmonious balance that must be something like what Wagner was groping for when he came up with his theories of the 'total art work.' '" --The Seattle Weekly
The Chapel, Seattle, WA 2008 | Cal Anderson Park, Seattle, WA 2008 
Aphrodite Linda Strandberg | Eros Ben Black | The Sister Vanessa De Wolf | The King Gary Zinter | The Chorus Mary Cutrera, Ines Andrade, Diana Garcia Snyder, Archana Kumar | Vocal Chorus Kristen Ramer, Jeremiah Cawley | Percussion Dean Moore, Stan Shikuma | Indian harmonium Esther Sugai | Viola Steven Cresswell | Oboe Taina Karr | Bass Greg Bagley | Music Direction Jeremiah Cawley
Psyche was presented by City of Seattle Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs as part of 4Culture's SITE-SPECIFIC/2008 King County Performance Network. Psyche has also received support from the 4Culture Special Projects Program and is sponsored by the Cal Anderson Park Alliance.
Moon in the Bucket 
Music Garrett Fisher | Words Zeami | Choreography/Co-Direction Christy Fisher | Masks Louise McCagg | Co-Direction/Dramaturgy Ken Cerniglia | Set & Costumes Tori Ellison
Moon in the Bucket is inspired by Zeami's fourteenth-century Noh play Matsukaze ("wind in the pines"), and tells the story of a wandering priest who employs the moon's reflection to release a pair of ghosts from their haunted past. 
"Local visits by composer and harmonium player Garrett Fisher and his troupe are rare and eagerly anticipated. Fishers work combines elements of Eastern and Western music and drama in an elegant, meditative mix. This weeks concerts are devoted to Moon in the Bucket, a haunting, ineffably lovely choreographed oratorio." --TimeOut New York
"The music wonderfully combines and Early music style of vocal harmonies with meditative harmonium drone, elegant Koto (a Japanese zither-like instrument) and Taiko percussion, creating a unique sound reminiscent of English Madrigal and Japanese Court music...Fine storytelling and haunting melodies memorably bring to life a simple tale of two ghost-sisters who inhabit the pining wind on the shore." --New Classics
"Moon in the Bucket may well be the loveliest thing Fisher has written yet." --The Stranger
Judson Memorial Church, New York, NY (2008) 
Priest Linda Strandberg | Chorus Kristen Ramer, Ben Black | 
Ghost Sisters Christy Fisher, Ines Andrade | Percussion Dean Moore | 
Oboe Taina Karr | Fretless Bass Greg Bagley | 
Indian harmonium Garrett Fisher | Music Direction Jeremiah Cawley
CD 
Vocalists Anna Vinten-Johansen, Katherine Hanson, Liz ODonoghue | 
Oboe Taina Karr | Koto Elizabeth Falconer | 
Percussion William Satake Blauvelt | Indian harmonium Garrett Fisher
Nippon Kan Theater, Seattle, WA (1998) 
Moon in the Bucket was originally produced and choreographed by AC Petersen at the Nippon Kan Theatre (Seattle, WA).
Phonograph
Phonograph (2007) 
Music & Words Garrett Fisher
Phonograph combines pop with such influences as Indian ragas, techo beats, and fretless bass and features Fisher's vocals along with Indian harmonium, sampled gongs, with words inspired by the words of the ancient Greek poet Sappho.
Vocals, Indian harmonium, bass, keyboards, rhythms & sounds Garrett Fisher | Sampled gongs Dean Moore | Engineer Doug Haire | Mastering engineer Mell Dettmer 
Recorded at Ivan Studios, Seattle | Mixed at Jack Straw Foundation, Seattle 
Special thanks to David Stutz and Matthew Anderson
Includes lyrics freely adapted from the Gospel of Mary Magdalene and Sappho
Cover: LP 78, 2007, bronze sculpture, diameter 9in. by Louise McCagg | Photo by Nayia Frangouli | Layout & design TIFLIN 
16 VISIONS, LLC 2007. All rights reserved.
The Passion of Saint Thomas More
The Passion of Saint Thomas More (2007, 1995) 
Music & Words Garrett Fisher | Choreography/Co-Direction Christy Fisher | Co-Direction/Dramaturgy Ken Cerniglia | Masks Louise McCagg
Rather than a literal interpretation of history, The Passion of Saint Thomas More is a meditation on More's decision to be true to his convictions and his refusal to agree to Henry VIII's demands.
"Spare, elegant, and beautiful." --TimeOut New York
"Hypnotic, magical, enchanting and moving...[with] touches of pure dramatic genius." --Gramophone
"This is simply one of the most beautiful CDs I have ever reviewed." 
--Fanfare
"The focus and beauty of the work stunned me." --The Seattle Weekly
"Fisher has an acute ear for timing and dramatic structure." ---American Record Guide
"Spectacularly eerie...infused with beautiful desperation." --The N
(link to Classics Today)
Judson Memorial Church, New York, NY (2007) | Thomas More Church, Kansas City, MO (2007) | Queen Anne Christian Church, Seattle, WA (2007) 
Thomas More Katherine Hanson | Margaret Linda Strandberg | Henry VIII David Stutz | Dancer Christy Fisher | English horn Taina Karr | Guitar Matthew Anderson, Jay Kauffman | Dumbek Dean Moore | Indian harmonium Garrett Fisher
BIS CD 
Thomas More Anna Vinten-Johansen | Margaret Christina Högman | Henry VIII Olle Persson | English horn Taina Karr | Guitar Sven Åberg | Percussion Göran Månsson | Indian harmonium Garrett Fisher
Stargazer
Stargazer (2006) 
Music Garrett Fisher | Libretto Garrett Fisher & Thom Schramm 
Direction Ken Cerniglia
"As in his previous operas, Garrett Fisher explores the theme of individuals in conflict with implacable forces (religion, fate, or the state) in Stargazer, a meditation on Galileo's clash with the church (libretto by Thom Schramm). An almost liturgical serenity prevails. Solo singing, choral singing and rhythmic chanting, and spoken word (both live and taped) are underpinned and colored by English horn, cello, taiko drum, and harmonium, while percussionist Dean Moore's huge array of gongs, bells, and metal found objects, ranging in size from tea saucer to car tire and hung from a scaffold/cage built to allow 360-degree access, provide visual spectacle as well as sound." --The Seattle Weekly
All Pilgrims Church, Seattle, WA (2006) 
Vocalists Eric Mentzel, Linda Strandberg | Actor Dennis Kleinsmith | Oboe Taina Karr | Cello Mary Riles | Indian harmoniumGarrett Fisher | Percussion Dean Moore, Stan Shikuma | Sound Design Justin Gerardy | Conductor Philip Tschopp
Moon Film
Moon in the Bucket – Short Film (2005) 
Music Garrett Fisher | Words Zeami | Film direction Theo Lipfert | Choreography AC Petersen | Dancer Yoko Murao
Anchorage International Film Festival, December, 2006 
Dance Flicks, North Carlton, Australia, November 2006 
Northampton Independent Film Festival, November, 2006 
Portland International Short Short Festival, October, 2006 
One Reel Film Festival/Bumbershoot, September, 2006 
Crested Butte Film Festival, Colorado, August, 2006 
daVinci Days, Corvallis, Oregon, July, 2006 
Utah Arts Festival, Salt Lake City, June 2006 
Winnipeg International Film Festival, June 2006 
SanSouci Festival of Dance Cinema, Boulder, June 2006
Vocalists Anna Vinten-Johansen, Katherine Hanson, Liz ODonoghue | Oboe Taina Karr | Koto Elizabeth Falconer | 
Percussion William Satake Blauvelt | Indian harmonium Garrett Fisher
Dream of Zeus
Dream of Zeus (2004) 
Music & Words Garrett Fisher | Direction Ilene Fins | Assistant Direction/Choreography Gary Zinter | Dramaturgy 
Dream of Zeus interweaves voice, Taiko, music, movement and masks to tell the story of the House of Atreus. The work is a development and expansion of Agamemnon. 
"Fisher and director Ilene Fins have a knack for writing and staging intricate, fuguelike ensemble scenes...they've created something remarkably attractive on what must have been a tiny budget." --The Seattle Weekly
"Provocative...effective and telling" ---The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
"A strong, disturbing score...Fisher creates a sense of foreboding and dread that builds as the work progresses." --The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
"The music was haunting and the integration of movement skillful." --The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
"Fisher's music is as controlled, narrowly focused and dramatic as his libretto." --The Seattle Times
"Fisher has a long history of collaboration in the creation of his work." --The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 
Consolidated Works, Seattle, WA (2004) 
Vocalists Deeji Killian, Robert Tangney, Linda Strandberg, Vern Nicodemus, Katherine Hanson | Taiko Stan Shikuma | Indian harmonium Rebbeca McColl | Electric guitar Matthew Anderson | Piano Nicole Truesdell | Viol da gamba Noreen Jacky | Oboe Taina Karr | Conductor Philip Tschopp.
Created with the support of the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs, City of Seattle; with the support of the Puffin Foundation, and Consolidated Works Access Works Program.
Sally Hemings
Sally Hemings Wakes (2003) 
Music & Words Garrett Fisher | Choreography Christy Fisher | Direction Alan Maskin | Cinematography Tim Bies | Editing Theo Lipfert
The short video focuses on the relationship between President Jefferson and his slave, Sally Hemings. 
Vocalists Ellaina Lewis, Ernest Palmer, Katherine Hanson | Oboe Taina Karr | Electric Guitar Matthew Anderson | Taiko Stan Shikuma | Indian harmonium Rebecca McColl
Developed with assistance from the Bossak/Heilbron Foundation, Centrum Arts Colony. 
2002 Production 
Sally Hemings was produced by the Fisher Ensemble at On the Boards Northwest New Works Festival.
Silk Road
Silk Road (2002) 
Direction & Movement AC Petersen | Installation & Set Erin Shie Palmer | Sound gathering & recording Susia Kozawa | Composer & Lyricist Garrett Fisher | Lighting Design Meg Fox
Soprano Ellaina Lewis | Performer/Dancer/Collalborators Alethea Adsitt, Amanda Findley, Jasmine Kar Tang, Eryn Schon, Vanessa Villalobos.
Silk Road co-produced by House of Dames, Consolidated Works and AC Petersen Dance at Consolidated Works Seattle; Ken, Production Manager; Jeb Lewis, Production Assistant; Bill Petersen, Sound Engineer.
Deborah Person, line producer; ACT Theatre, production assistance and production partner. Developed with assistance from the Bossak/Heilbron Foundation, Seattle Arts Commission, King County Arts Commission, Wing Luke Asian Museum, and many individual supporters. Created in parallel with "If Tired Hands Could Talk." Opening performance benefitted the Refugee Women's Alliance.
Agamemnon
Agamemnon (1998, 1997) 
Music & Words Garrett Fisher | Choreography Christy Fisher | Masks Louise McCagg
Agamemnon, based on the Ancient Greek tragedy by Aeschylus, tells the story of the Greek King who is murdered by his wife. In 2004, this piece was expanded into Dream of Zeus.
"A strong, disturbing score...Fisher creates a sense of foreboding and dread that builds as the work progresses." --The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
"The music was haunting and the integration of movement skillful." --The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
When Deeji Killian, standing in a red robe, sings in her warm, passionate, soprano, "What can truly drive a man to war, and how could he leave me - leave me stained with the blood of my child?" it is deeply moving...Fisher casts the same dancer...as both the murdered daughter, Iphigenia, and as Cassandra, whom Agamemnon has brought back to be his concubine. It's a clever stroke...It's a thrilling finale...Fisher's music is as controlled, narrowly focused and dramatic as his libretto. " --The Seattle Times
On the Boards Northwest New Works Festival, Seattle, WA (1997); The Nippon Kan Theater, Seattle, WA (1998) 
Vocalists Deeji Killian, Robert Tangney | Dancer Theresa Mathern | Percussion William Satake Blauvelt, Karen Akada, Stan Shikuma, Mike Walker | Viola Brian Lew | Piano Garrett Fisher | Oboe & English horn Taina Karr | Electric guitar Matthew Anderson
Developed with assistance from the Bossak/Heilbron Foundation, Seattle Arts Commission, King County Arts Commission.
Experience
We're currently at work on a trilogy, which includes The Passion of Saint Sebastian (originally presented at On the Boards Artist Access Program in 1996), At the Hawks Well (based on the play by W.B. Yeats), and Kocho ("Butterfly") inspired by the Noh play of the same name. We're planning to premiere it next February in Seattle, and March in New York. Join our mailing list so that we can keep you apprised on developments.
Press
"a star of Seattle's new music scene who has been deeply influenced by Japanese Noh theater and Chinese opera." --The New Yorker
"Local visits by composer and harmonium player Garrett Fisher and his troupe are rare and eagerly anticipated. Fishers work combines elements of Eastern and Western music and drama in an elegant, meditative mix...Lovers of pre-Baroque choral music, Meredith Monk and minimalism are urged to investigate." --TimeOut New York
"Innovative" --The New York Magazine
"[Fisher] freely mixes theatrical and musical traditions East and West and genres, breaking down barriers with abandon and considerable deftness." --The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 
"Conflict is his [Fisher's] theme, not his method; his music coexists with other arts in a harmonious balance that must be something like what Wagner was groping for when he came up with his theories of the 'total art work.'" --The Seattle Weekly 
Support
Please consider making a contribution to the Fisher Ensemble, a not-for-profit organization devoted to nurturing the living arts through their presentation and promotion. No matter how large or small your donation, you will help the Fisher Ensemble continue to develop new work and bring you innovative programming.
As the Fisher Ensemble is a registered 501(c)3 organization, any donation you make is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. In addition, if your employer matches such contributions, you may be able to double your impact. 
$50 = programs 
$100 = postage for marketing for a show 
$250 = 1 year of internet service 
$500 = airline ticket to NYC 
$1000 = 1 puppet 
$2500 = space rental
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email us or call us toll-free at 877.479.1554.
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