Nathan Young, Warren Realrider, Mekko Harjo

Artist-composers Warren Realrider and Nathan Young presented a workshop and a new composition, Kitawîrisu’ (or The Gambler), a stochastic piece inspired by the chance operations of John Cage, the Fluxus artists, and John Zorn’s Cobra. Kitawîrisu’ incorporates extended compositional techniques, utilizing voice, phones, paper, and sticks, to generate sound through Asâru’—games of chance.

This workshop was open to all participants interested in exploring new compositional techniques. Participants engaged in the creative process by experimenting with chance-based composition, interacting with various sound-making objects, and contributing to the evolving structure of Kitawîrisu’. Through guided improvisation and collaborative exercises, they gained insight into how Pawnee traditions intersect with contemporary experimental music, fostering a deeper understanding of stochastic composition and Indigenous approaches to sound.