Musical innovator William Close is an installation artist and musician that has developed a staggering 100+ new types of musical instruments in his time, including his majestic Earth Harp created in 1999, the largest stringed instrument on the planet. The body of the instrument rests on the stage and the strings travel out over the audience attaching to the back of the theater, turning the entire area into the body of the instrument. William Close and The Earth Harp Collective has transformed places like Coachella, Lightning In A Bottle, Lollapalooza and Burning Man into his harp, and just added LA’s City National Plaza skyscraper to the list.
Earlier this month, the world-renown installation artist brought holiday spirit to the heart of Los Angeles as he strung the 36 strings his Earth Harp 700 feet high to the top of the City National Plaza skyscraper as part of LA’s Downtown Art Walk and packed its plaza for two one-hour holiday themed shows starring Close and his ensemble. Close’s awe-inspiring performance proved to be sight and sound experience for his audiences of all ages, as it featured special guest violinist Shaina Evoniuk, vocalist Rafe Pearlman, and Sorne, an operatic rock vocalist. The one-of-a-kind concert boasted compositions played by various musicians performing on several of William Close’s self-invented large-scale instruments, including the big/orchestral drum sculptures, infusing all those in attendance with some serious holiday spirit.
