Gesualdo Translations
after the madrigals of Carlo Gesualdo Principe di Venosa
A Deutschland Radio production, © 2007.
Audrey Chen - Mezzo-Soprano.
Simon Zalevski - Harpsichord
Andrew Arceci - Viola da gamba, Violone.
Alessandro Bosetti - Piano, Harmonium, Regal organ, Guitars, Oud, Banjo, Field recordings.
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The musical translations presented here originate from the fifth and sixth books of madrigals published by Carlo Gesualdo Principe di Venosa in 1611. They have been sung by people I met in Napoli where Gesualdo used to live and compose. Meetings happened by chance in streets, cafes, parties, markets and churches in July 2007. Each of those persons was previously unaware of those madrigals. They sung along single voices from the original polyphonies I presented to them through a pair of headphones. I then reconstructed the polyphonies with what was given to me. The original cromaticisms in the music widened and frequency proportions bended. Every one of the many off pitch notes mattered. Each omission, each confused muttering was part of this gift. The whole arrangement process that followed has been meditation and practice on the "screziatura" as well as on the erratic nature of musical pitch under the influence of stars, places and human encounters. ...continue reading.
The feelings of Objects
A Deutschland Radio production, © 2006
What do objects feel ? What happens
when we say : "I'm emotionally attached to this object"
? Could be that the object itself may be emotionally attached to us
? What if it's the object itself feeling something ? Do objects remember
? Why some objects generate a "mood" ? When is it that the
post organic starts having sex appeal ? Can objects really take care
of us ?
Some objects are silent, others not, they carry emotions. I look around
and some objects are special to me. Often for reasons i don't know.
The stumme diener is unforgettable. Why so ? That old tractor so charming.
What makes it that way ? The vaacum machine in the physiscs laboratory
at the university inspires me to spend a night in the same room and
the desire of falling asleep right there. Why ? What does my saxophone
thinks of me ?
I wish i knew....
For "The feelings of objects" i've choosen twelve of them
and i have one year to spend in their close company. I'd be listening
to those objects and producing a sound piece with each one of them
made exclusively with the sounds coming from the objects itself.
Some of them are obviously sonorous and loud objects while others
are not, they seem to be silent, and the challenge to make them sound
and eventually create a musical sense out of that is very appealing
to me.
I may need close miking, manipulation, contemplation and patience
but im sure each one of those will eventually disclose it's sound
world. I'll be listening when it'll happen.