Dualisms by Michael Malis

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dualism (n.): the division of something conceptually into two opposed or contrasted aspects, or the state of being so divided.

Two contradictory things can be true at the same time. This, in and of itself, is a spiritual disposition. The idea that truth can contain contradiction belies rational thought, which demands that truth be narrowly defined and rigid. It undermines the westernized thought process, which tends to favor straight, hierarchal lines pointing up a mountain of truth over circular, diffuse wisdoms which scatter in the waters of consciousness.

In their own ways, the pieces presented in this collection each reach toward some aspect duality. Most obviously, each piece is a duet. I wanted to write a set of pieces that were intimate and tailored to the scale of my living room. The accompanying videos, masterfully shot by Matt Lima, capture that intimacy. But more subtly, each piece takes some duality as its premise, inspiration, or chief motivating factor. Each piece casts a shadow, containing both light and dark energy.

The pieces contained in this collection are bound together not by aesthetics as much as a common wisdom: each piece is a deep dive into emotionality. They seek out fullness and spaciousness; dancing and stillness; growth and stagnation; building and breaking.

This music is designed to invoke angels, ghosts, protectors, and amulets — from worlds past and worlds never known. Zara Teicher’s insightful and arresting artwork makes some of these saints explicit — from the portraits of Mary Oliver and Marvin Gaye to the imagery of owls and playing cards, all of which were very much in my mind when composing and performing these pieces. Her work exquisitely captures the myth-world built by this music, and spins it out into a symbolic language. This zine is more than a companion to the music; it is itself a manifesto of symbology.

My hope this collection of music, video, artwork, and words inspires you to go to the deepest place inside of yourself. That part of yourself that you lock away for fear of being seen by others. That part of yourself that you love fiercely. This work grasps at the sacred, and we all have that sacred spark inside each of us. We shake with joy.

Michael Malis is a composer and pianist based in Detroit, Michigan. A multi-faceted musical artist, he works across genres in improvisational, concert music, and interdisciplinary settings.

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