Cosmic Homeostasis

"Cosmic Homeostasis is both a loose collective of sound-makers and the events they convene at. In a dozen performances over three years, nearly thirty different players have joined in. As a nascent improviser, I wanted to create a context where active listening was given equal value to making sounds — mostly because I felt it was a skill I myself needed to work on. The second goal was to create a safe and friendly environment where sound-makers of any skill level could feel comfortable taking part in a public performance. Besides a gentle reminder to listen there are usually no fixed musical instructions, outside of some general prompts to start a piece — no one needs to read sheet music, or know what key they're in, or count beats. In a large ensemble, there are enough voices that one can always pause and listen to everyone else without worrying they have to be contributing from moment to moment, and the division between ensemble and audience can fade away into the aether." - Joe Strutt initiator of Cosmic Homeostasis (also Mechanical Forest Sound) Gatherings occur in months that have a fifth Sunday and take place at The Tranzac in Toronto