Paper Cut

Composer Alex Shapiro's Paper Cut is reminiscent of a movie soundtrack to which musicians can imagine their own dramatic scene. Paper Cut is written to make the players themselves part of the action with choreographed maneuvers that look as compelling as they sound. In fact, the band members don't even play their instruments until halfway into the work... instead they "play" paper along with a prerecorded track (available as an mp3)! The unusual element of paper and the myriad sounds that can emerge from something so simple offers a fresh view of what music-making can be and opens everyone's ears to the sonic possibilities found among everyday objects. The paper techniques and the skill of playing against a prerecorded track are interesting for all ages.