The Bridge Across Time Film Screening

TEMPO Concert Hall — Doors 6:30 PM | Film & Performances at 7:00 PM

Join us for a screening of the in-process documentary The Bridge Across Time, which offers a sweeping, behind-the-scenes look at the restoration of the century-old Wurts Street Bridge spanning the deep-water Rondout Harbor in New York’s Hudson Valley.

Followed by performances by Peter Wetzler and Gamelon Kingston.

About the film:
The restoration project was marked by daunting challenges and the ever-present risk of catastrophic failure. The work is captured in unprecedented detail, revealing the intricate science, engineering, and artistry behind suspension-bridge construction. Rare archival material contrasts the bridge’s original 1920 build with its modern-day renewal.

The film explores the Rondout Creek—once a thriving hub of the Industrial Revolution—and the technological and transportation advances that molded the area’s fortunes and the lives of its communities. Told through the voices of workers, engineers, historians, political leaders, and residents, the story begins with the bridge’s groundbreaking in 1914, moves through decades of decline and change, and culminates in its celebrated reopening in 2024. The rescue of this remarkable structure underscores the enduring value of infrastructure and preservation.

After the screening there will be a special premiere performance of SANCTU. The name is drawn from both Sanctus and Sanctuary as in Sanctuary City. The piece was composed by Peter Wetzler inspired by his love of the Wurts Street Bridge.

Over 30 years ago, Peter Wetzler and his partner Julie Hedrick bought an abandoned church on Wurts Street up the hill from the beautiful old bridge. As the work on the documentary The Bridge Across Time was busy chronicling the historic reconstruction of the beloved icon, the filmmakers arranged access for Peter to “harvest” the sounds from different parts of the bridge—the cables, the steel and the ambient environmental soundscapes. These sounds were then tuned to the scale of the gamelan for this piece he has composed for Gamelon Kingston.

Gamelon Kingston is a group of composers and performers exploring the musical possibilities of gamelan (a multi-timbral melodic percussion orchestra from Indonesia) in contemporary and traditional styles. Their diverse backgrounds combine to create new music as well as new collaborative possibilities with both artists and audiences.

Tickets: $15 standard / $25 supporter

All tickets are general admission open seating.

Tempo Kingston is a project of Kingston Music Initiative (KMI).

Kingston Music Initiative is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, recognized by the IRS. Our EIN is 99-0864420. Contributions to Kingston Music Initiative are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.