- Audio Sample : TRANSIENTS listen here
Moving between medieval and contemporary extremes, Stevie Wishart's work as a sound artist, composer and performer draws on the contrasting landscapes and histories. This piece was composed for members of Sinfonye and other musicians that Stevie improvises with and has now become its own sonic identity, Transients. There are fragments of old and new poems which cross fade, collide and with the musical instruments electronic sound transformations. Dubbed-out and trance dance beats combine with ancient Arabic and medieval soundscapes to create an 'imposing sonic edifice' (The Wire). Commissioned by the Music Fund of the Australia Council in association with the Beursschouwberg, Brussels.
Line-up:
Stevie Wishart: concept, hurdy-gurdy, electronics, voice | Jocelyn West: voice | Simon Limbrick/ Dirk Wachtelaer: electronics, percussion | Khyam Allami: oud, hand percussion | Rhodri Davies: harp | Vivien Ellis: vocals
Tracks
SONG 1: O MIROIR
(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.
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.
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?