"arcane technologies ... dubbed-out and trance dance beats ... cross fade, collide and undergo electronic transformations"
Moving between medieval and contemporary extremes, Stevie Wishart's work as a sound artist, composer and performer draws on the contrasting landscapes and histories of Australia and Europe.
Mixing arcane technologies such as Stevie Wishart's own hurdy-gurdy with contemporary digital and analogue sound, transient fragments of pre-classical music cross fade, collide and undergo electronic transformations. Dubbed-out and trance dance beats combine with traditional Arabic and medieval chants to create an 'imposing sonic edifice' (The Wire).
Commissioned by the Music Fund of the Australia Council in association with the Beursschouwberg, Brussels
Composed by Stevie Wishart for members of Sinfonye Brussels 2005 commissioned by Australia Council & the Beursschouwburg, Brussels
Transients
Transient sounds cross-fade and collide as the medieval fast forwards to the new.
Transient fragments polyphony of preclassical compositional systems filtering through analog and digital electronic transformations. Transient collages traditional Arabic and experimental improvisations.
Transient plays with dubbed-out and trance dance beats and strange hybrids for hurdygurdy, oud, harp, vocals, percussion and electronics.
…Different soundworlds co-exist.
Line-up:
- Stevie Wishart: voice, hurdy-gurdy, electronics
- Jocelyn West: voice
- Dirk Wachtelaer: electronics, percussion
- Abid El Bahri: oud
- Rhodri Davies: harp
- Jamal Larbi: percussion
- Vivien Ellis: vocals
Song 1: O Mirroir
text Mallarmé
…O miroir! Eau froide par l’ennui dans ton cadre gelée Que de fois et pendant des heures, désolée Des songes et cherchant mes souvenirs qui sont Comme des feuilles sous ta glace au trou profond, Je m’apparus en toi comme une ombre lointaine…
Song 2: Exul ego
text Gottschalf
Exul ego diuscule hoc in mari sum, domine: annos nempe duos fere nosti fore sed iam iamque miserere! Hoc rogo humillime.
I have been an exile, Lord, a little long upon this sea – indeed it will be almost two years, you know; but now, now take pity! This I ask most humbly.
Song 3
- Halhali ma’
- Meu ‘L-habib
Song 4 : Nouvelles ivresses
Song 5
- Twisted values
Twisted values in a hidden world linked by words that no longer exist
2. C’était leur fine
C’étaient leurs fines et puissantes substances encore distillées et dégageant de nouveaux fumets, de nouvelles ivresses. C’était l’agonie de la vieille langue qui, après s’être persillée de siècle en siècle, finissait par se dissoudre.
3. Tan t’maray
Tan t’amaray, illa con al-sarti an tagma halhali ma qurti!
I’ll give you such love! But only if you’ll bend my anklets right over to my earrings!
Song 6: Ut quid iubes
text Gottschalk
Ut quid iubes, pusiole? Quare mandas, filiole, Carmen dulce me cantare, Cum sim longe exui valde, intramare? O! cur iubes canere?
Why, little boy, do you ask me to sing a beautiful song when I am exiled at sea?
Stevie Wishart would like to thank Dirk Seghers and the Beursschouwburg-team for making this project possible.