July 4, 2016

The following is an excerpt of a 23 January 2015 email exchange between Art and Will.

Moses viewing the Promised Land

Art:

On another subject, I think July 4, 2016 is the critical date. 

With the more ambitious lineup of high-end players, highly involved props, costumes, and sets, and long-distance practicing arrangements, it will probably take us that long. 

More importantly, that is 40 years after the critical day, the day of the Concert for Iceland, the 200th anniversary of our country's founding. And 40 years is a critical lapse of time due to its biblical associations. Up to this point, we have been wandering in the desert and only now are we going to be allowed to enter into the promised land: Iceland! 

July 4, 1976 was about passover, liberation, promise. July 4, 2016 will be about arrival, fulfillment, conquest. 

Not to say we won't make forays, foretastes, foreshadowings--blips on the radar. 

But, if we do nothing else, we must be ready for July 4, 2016! 

People get ready for July 4, 2016!

Will:

 Everything you've said about July 4th, 2016 makes sense.  Two thoughts: 

• It will be nearly impossible to get an audience. A solution here could be that we broadcast the performance then and release it for download. Another would be that we find a rich person who supports the arts and perform it at his or her barbecue.  

• I'm geeked about doing something this summer. That doesn't have to be Iceland, though.  I'm fine with doing something very stripped down, maybe as a 3-piece if Father is up for it.  If we can add a guitar player, that's cool, too. There are a ton of venues that would work out here, and unlike Lansing, Traverse City's population quadruples in the summer instead of shrinking.