Calendars:Networked Media Calendar/Networked Media Calendar/15-11-2012 -Event 2

13:00 - 14:00 - Tip Top Orchestra Meeting (lg Project space)

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Dear People of the Piet Zwart academy,

At the moment I’m working on a series of performances concerning Terry Riley’s famous 20th century minimal music classic ‘In C’. If you do not know this great free moving piece with semi-aleathoric tendencies, there are several things that might be nice to appreciate. It consists of 53 phrases of music, which are more or less randomly played within an undefined amount of time. Each musician has control over which phrase he or she plays and when he or she does it. This means that the performers themselves are more or less in control of what and how they perform. There are however certain rules that should not be overlooked.

You can find the music sheets (with creative commons license and instructions) here: [1]
The original Terry Riley recording from 1968 (with overdubs) can be heard here: [2]
Also nice to check is this fusion-like version by L'infonie from 1970: [3]

Some say anyone can play it, can you?

My plan is to develop ‘The Tip Top Orchestra’, a diligent Youth ensemble composed of at least 35 people who are interested in playing this piece in public spaces such as the Motel Mozaique festival, ‘het standspodium’ opposite the Laurenskerk and whatever other interesting events might occur. In the future more popular 20th century avant-garde composers, such as Xenakis, Steve Reich and Varese will also be made part of the repertoire providing the opportunity. I’m currently compositing a list of participants and places where the performances will be held.

Anyone interested in playing in the orchestra can apply by mailing me personally at info@yoshiminotaband.com. There will be a first meeting explaining more about the piece and coming events next Thursday, the 15th at 13.00 in the Project Space at the Piet Zwart building. If you would like to attend, but not participate you are welcome to see what we’re up to. If you cannot attend, but do want to participate, just send me a message. If you want to participate and attend you can bring ideas and your instrument along.

What I am looking for is not technical musical skill. If you do not know how to read notations or play guitar, but have a Qua Zeng Qin and the will to use it, you are more than welcome. In the end we are aiming for an innovative approach to musical reproduction (meaning the reconstruction of an original piece through different methods) and instrumentation (members are encouraged to make their own instruments). There is even room for improvisation. So don’t hesitate to send me an email! Anyone is welcome if he or she is prepared to spend one hour a week being in an orchestra and enjoy doing it.

I hope you are as enthusiastic as me about this project and playing together. Maybe soon we will have a proper Orchestra worthy of the Piet Zwart Institute.

With kind regards,

Niek Hilkmann