Somehow i made it to one of the places i always wanted to go, Japan. I had an introduction to Japanese music when i was just 20, but took to it like a duck to water. So yes here i am seeing Noh again (there is a previous entry here of one that came to Wollongong) and then later some Kabuki. Both by the top artist in the city. Somehow even on an entertainment level, i preferred the Noh. The Kyogen sections seem to be enough to carry the weight of the more dramatic that follows it, and despite to reading translations of Zeami's book and hoarding every recording i could through the years, here for the first time did i experience all the different layers that takes it out of just drama into a more far reaching theater combined with music and dance each on an equal level. In between this and the Kabuki a day before we left, Carl Stone took us to the favorite bar of Takemitsu. It was barely bigger than two pool tables put together. a very small crowd at at time with people turned away for lack of room. One person came in and turned out to be the lyric writer for the tune A Man and a Woman. [ Ba ba ba da ba etc. ] well it worked somehow! The Kabuki we saw was a more modern one but there was no schism with it own past. There was some projected film on a scrim along with some prerecorded Buddhist chant at the beginning. The whole play had 4 people yet one was aware that there had to be numerous ones in back of everything just to have mountains flying around as the actors traveled. It created a field in which one becomes aware of greater forces beyond ourselves always acting around us.
We were staying a block from one of the busiest station Shinjuku station. Maybe the most crowded place i have been in my life [minus some demonstrations i have been to]. But here was a never ending flow where no one bumps into each other. Yet a great calm underneath it all... maybe the whole country is that way yet one knows that the opposite exist here just as hidden.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
poem based on googling ' when pressed'
How Can you tell when pressed flowers are done?
When pressed, Paterno snaps back. Serena Williams plays coy when pressed about her relationship with Dobbs Crumbles When Pressed On His ‘NAFTA Super Highway’. When pressed about the harmful effects on the economy, proponents of higher taxes often fall back on what can be called the "Clinton defense ... such that when pressed it moved away from the user (similar to a positive-tilt keyboard), and tilted 30° such that when pressed it moved toward the user (similar to a negative-tilt keyboard). When pressed with historical counter-examples, such scholars will respond "When pressed, his memory failed," When Pressed for a Statement, produce a "bonk" noise. When pressed hard, the Ann Arbor City Council makes Facetious Remark. When pressed with logical arguments about the incoherence of grouping Indeed, when pressed by Stanley Hoffman he argued that the academic discipline as such was little more than an ideology of the powerful deployed to both masquerade and justify their continued dominance in a world of haves and have-nots. How do I make decisions when pressed? When pressed for an answer about illegal immigration in his home state, Sen. McCain throws a woman out of his town hall meeting. When pressed for clarification, Cain said that this note applied to the video review as well. (These execute an action when pressed) caught in limbo Even when pressed by the demands of inner truth, men do not easily assume the task of opposing their government's policy, especially in time of war. When pressed to clarify the “pillars” these deeds “undermined,” the Obama ... WHEN PRESSED ON ANY AMBIGUOUS ISSUE REGARDING THE OBAMATRON, NEVER CONFRONT THE ISSUE DIRECTLY; Jazz reserves carry the load when pressed into service While many people when pressed would sooner be apologists for slavery than apologize, ... When pressed, they knew nothing about it. When pressed, engage the autopilot. no scruple, when pressed, to sell the children of their serfs. .... Consumers say 'Very handy when pressed for time.' When pressed, officials also reveal, very quickly, that they rarely have any …When pressed further, Hartmann said, "It was a mistake. It's easy in hindsight to look back and say When pressed by Philippe Sands...on Bush's recent admission that he had authorized interrogation procedures widely seen as amounting to torture, ... became testy when pressed about his recent remarks that there are areas of Baghdad that were not part of the prearranged pattern remained dark, even when pressed takes it upon itself to darken when it's pressed and I don't want that. when pressed will erase the plane's track to it's current position and ... When pressed, the simulation will start. shows how far the axis will move when pressed. Instances of this class represent a selectable user interface object that issues notification when pressed and released. When pressed about the motives, the hollywood radical finally ...,. I'm genuinely fascinated by the number of people I've met who declare their cosmopolitanism/multiculturalism/love of diversity who, when pressed, can't manage to come up with anything that's enriched them (i.e. made a significant impact on their lives) other than access to the occasional takeaway (which often bear little relation to the "real thing"). Their "embracing" other cultures is nothing more than an arm's length occasional dietary treat or delicious meals when pressed for time or until the cakes spring back when pressed gently with a finger or 25-30 minutes, until puddings are firm when pressed in the centres.. When pressed, separates to a liquid fraction, oleo oil,.... An honest witness who testifies that he knows of no oil spills or discharges at a large oil storage facility may when pressed on cross-examination allow for the metaphysical possibility that such spills might have occurred or the likelihood that a drop here and there can have escaped. ... Similarly, he conceded (when pressed) When pressed in pleading, the tenants admitted that ever since Henry L's day they had been paying arbitrary reliefs that there might have been fugitive drops from the loading pipeline or from loaded trucks as they pulled away... When pressed, many shift blame onto the students who leave... which means that when pressed by fingertips.. Red Robin Spins Bullshit When Pressed To Reveal, Performs Well When Pressed Hard (Mannerisms)
These flexible characters play music when pressed, glow in the dark and are The glow when pressed carpet at Baithak... How do I make a button that will play one of four different sounds randomly when pressed?
The 4-way selector in Record mode toggles the flash mode when pressed "Right." When pressed "Up" it adjusts exposure compensation, "Left" to activate the Self-timer and press "Down" to enable Marco focus mode... Automatically Strikes a Surface with Powerful Spring Action when Pressed ... When pressed even further, His left paw has a embroidered music symbol which when pressed plays 10 ... When pressed for an exact number... squeals when pressed against the rotors. My uterus feels sore when pressed on. My son has pain right above his penis when pressed on, he is 18 .. squeal/make loud noise when pressed. When pressed for a further explanation he commented 'because it's easier to hold').
When pressed directly against bone, some trigger points feel like bruises. When pressed and help it always showed "physical" (touchable) items in red, whether or not they were otherwise visible. Look for reddened areas that, when pressed, do not turn white. bumps that expel a “white thing” when pressed. Disappears when pressed. Does not disappear when pressed.. hurts when pressed. Paining when pressed arm Lumps?". been there over a month.. any ideas? Does everybody's casing click when pressed? Cigars: Soft when pressedThis is a discussion on MedHelp about Testicle pain when pressed cause pain only when pressed 2 inches below eye on cheek but A reddened area on the skin that, when pressed, is "non-blanchable" pressed does not ...... Sorness above navel.. Tender pain in chest when pressed body pain when pressed vibration when pressed Automatically Strikes Surface When Pressed Hurts more when pressed on than when released when pressed, a user can scrub through the mediafile's timeline). WHEN PRESSED BY A CIRCULAR-CYLINDER More Pronounced When Pressed
Donald Duck pencil lights his ass when pressed ;-)When pressed for the perfect example of a modern folk musician, is more pliant than paper when pressed by a hard metal roller model dissappears when pressed,... . Light Won't Light When Pressed. Change color when pressed that, when pressed, causes the several actions ... when pressed in standby mode, . BUT the application has closed indicating an error when pressed on setting menu monitor brightness switch freezes Edgy when pressed Installation .... cool submit button switching when pressed. This is a button that, when pressed, submits the form. when pressed and turning volume. Down. a textual label and/or image, and evaluates a command when pressed. disable submit button when pressed.. » When pressed hard, the ... Arrow Keys jump two characters when pressed sticking when pressed on upper right hand corner touch screen lags when pressed Make Buttons. especially just underneath the screen where the case flexes when pressed. that when pressed resets the form's fields to their initial values as specified by the VALUE attribute. .. to a target surface when pressed there against title is a link which when pressed goes to an identical home page but with soft rubber button does not change enough when pressed. but some items (like skirts or dresses) will get a nasty "seam" when pressed flat. ... When Pressed for Details
Pressed Ashcroft
Pressed Powder..
When pressed, these keys will remain in the depressed (or "stuck") state
When pressed, Paterno snaps back. Serena Williams plays coy when pressed about her relationship with Dobbs Crumbles When Pressed On His ‘NAFTA Super Highway’. When pressed about the harmful effects on the economy, proponents of higher taxes often fall back on what can be called the "Clinton defense ... such that when pressed it moved away from the user (similar to a positive-tilt keyboard), and tilted 30° such that when pressed it moved toward the user (similar to a negative-tilt keyboard). When pressed with historical counter-examples, such scholars will respond "When pressed, his memory failed," When Pressed for a Statement, produce a "bonk" noise. When pressed hard, the Ann Arbor City Council makes Facetious Remark. When pressed with logical arguments about the incoherence of grouping Indeed, when pressed by Stanley Hoffman he argued that the academic discipline as such was little more than an ideology of the powerful deployed to both masquerade and justify their continued dominance in a world of haves and have-nots. How do I make decisions when pressed? When pressed for an answer about illegal immigration in his home state, Sen. McCain throws a woman out of his town hall meeting. When pressed for clarification, Cain said that this note applied to the video review as well. (These execute an action when pressed) caught in limbo Even when pressed by the demands of inner truth, men do not easily assume the task of opposing their government's policy, especially in time of war. When pressed to clarify the “pillars” these deeds “undermined,” the Obama ... WHEN PRESSED ON ANY AMBIGUOUS ISSUE REGARDING THE OBAMATRON, NEVER CONFRONT THE ISSUE DIRECTLY; Jazz reserves carry the load when pressed into service While many people when pressed would sooner be apologists for slavery than apologize, ... When pressed, they knew nothing about it. When pressed, engage the autopilot. no scruple, when pressed, to sell the children of their serfs. .... Consumers say 'Very handy when pressed for time.' When pressed, officials also reveal, very quickly, that they rarely have any …When pressed further, Hartmann said, "It was a mistake. It's easy in hindsight to look back and say When pressed by Philippe Sands...on Bush's recent admission that he had authorized interrogation procedures widely seen as amounting to torture, ... became testy when pressed about his recent remarks that there are areas of Baghdad that were not part of the prearranged pattern remained dark, even when pressed takes it upon itself to darken when it's pressed and I don't want that. when pressed will erase the plane's track to it's current position and ... When pressed, the simulation will start. shows how far the axis will move when pressed. Instances of this class represent a selectable user interface object that issues notification when pressed and released. When pressed about the motives, the hollywood radical finally ...,. I'm genuinely fascinated by the number of people I've met who declare their cosmopolitanism/multiculturalism/love of diversity who, when pressed, can't manage to come up with anything that's enriched them (i.e. made a significant impact on their lives) other than access to the occasional takeaway (which often bear little relation to the "real thing"). Their "embracing" other cultures is nothing more than an arm's length occasional dietary treat or delicious meals when pressed for time or until the cakes spring back when pressed gently with a finger or 25-30 minutes, until puddings are firm when pressed in the centres.. When pressed, separates to a liquid fraction, oleo oil,.... An honest witness who testifies that he knows of no oil spills or discharges at a large oil storage facility may when pressed on cross-examination allow for the metaphysical possibility that such spills might have occurred or the likelihood that a drop here and there can have escaped. ... Similarly, he conceded (when pressed) When pressed in pleading, the tenants admitted that ever since Henry L's day they had been paying arbitrary reliefs that there might have been fugitive drops from the loading pipeline or from loaded trucks as they pulled away... When pressed, many shift blame onto the students who leave... which means that when pressed by fingertips.. Red Robin Spins Bullshit When Pressed To Reveal, Performs Well When Pressed Hard (Mannerisms)
These flexible characters play music when pressed, glow in the dark and are The glow when pressed carpet at Baithak... How do I make a button that will play one of four different sounds randomly when pressed?
The 4-way selector in Record mode toggles the flash mode when pressed "Right." When pressed "Up" it adjusts exposure compensation, "Left" to activate the Self-timer and press "Down" to enable Marco focus mode... Automatically Strikes a Surface with Powerful Spring Action when Pressed ... When pressed even further, His left paw has a embroidered music symbol which when pressed plays 10 ... When pressed for an exact number... squeals when pressed against the rotors. My uterus feels sore when pressed on. My son has pain right above his penis when pressed on, he is 18 .. squeal/make loud noise when pressed. When pressed for a further explanation he commented 'because it's easier to hold').
When pressed directly against bone, some trigger points feel like bruises. When pressed and help it always showed "physical" (touchable) items in red, whether or not they were otherwise visible. Look for reddened areas that, when pressed, do not turn white. bumps that expel a “white thing” when pressed. Disappears when pressed. Does not disappear when pressed.. hurts when pressed. Paining when pressed arm Lumps?". been there over a month.. any ideas? Does everybody's casing click when pressed? Cigars: Soft when pressedThis is a discussion on MedHelp about Testicle pain when pressed cause pain only when pressed 2 inches below eye on cheek but A reddened area on the skin that, when pressed, is "non-blanchable" pressed does not ...... Sorness above navel.. Tender pain in chest when pressed body pain when pressed vibration when pressed Automatically Strikes Surface When Pressed Hurts more when pressed on than when released when pressed, a user can scrub through the mediafile's timeline). WHEN PRESSED BY A CIRCULAR-CYLINDER More Pronounced When Pressed
Donald Duck pencil lights his ass when pressed ;-)When pressed for the perfect example of a modern folk musician, is more pliant than paper when pressed by a hard metal roller model dissappears when pressed,... . Light Won't Light When Pressed. Change color when pressed that, when pressed, causes the several actions ... when pressed in standby mode, . BUT the application has closed indicating an error when pressed on setting menu monitor brightness switch freezes Edgy when pressed Installation .... cool submit button switching when pressed. This is a button that, when pressed, submits the form. when pressed and turning volume. Down. a textual label and/or image, and evaluates a command when pressed. disable submit button when pressed.. » When pressed hard, the ... Arrow Keys jump two characters when pressed sticking when pressed on upper right hand corner touch screen lags when pressed Make Buttons. especially just underneath the screen where the case flexes when pressed. that when pressed resets the form's fields to their initial values as specified by the VALUE attribute. .. to a target surface when pressed there against title is a link which when pressed goes to an identical home page but with soft rubber button does not change enough when pressed. but some items (like skirts or dresses) will get a nasty "seam" when pressed flat. ... When Pressed for Details
Pressed Ashcroft
Pressed Powder..
When pressed, these keys will remain in the depressed (or "stuck") state
Friday, June 20, 2008
(Some) Gates, Windows and Doors
Harry Partch- as the founder of ideas of music being the unifying catalyst to a total unspecialized theater.
Eugenio Barba’s theatre anthropology – as a model for a musical one. Olson’s Projective verse- as the basis of intuitive music tangentially relative to Victor Turner’s concern of ‘Flow”.
Carl Jung- as the acknowledgement of history manifesting as a dynamic force and informer as opposed to unbending solidified structures.
Henri Corbin- as reintroducing the concept of “The Creative Imagination” as the mesocosm between the infinite small and large
Polytheism- as an assimilation of the inner commune (Hillman) hence a move away from the inherent predisposition of minimalism toward monotheistic parallels.
Camouflage- as disruptive pattern material
Cryptography- as indeterminacy stemming from paranoia
Eugenio Barba’s theatre anthropology – as a model for a musical one. Olson’s Projective verse- as the basis of intuitive music tangentially relative to Victor Turner’s concern of ‘Flow”.
Carl Jung- as the acknowledgement of history manifesting as a dynamic force and informer as opposed to unbending solidified structures.
Henri Corbin- as reintroducing the concept of “The Creative Imagination” as the mesocosm between the infinite small and large
Polytheism- as an assimilation of the inner commune (Hillman) hence a move away from the inherent predisposition of minimalism toward monotheistic parallels.
Camouflage- as disruptive pattern material
Cryptography- as indeterminacy stemming from paranoia
Friday, May 30, 2008
The Necks at the Sydney Opera House
One of the great fringe benefits of setting up our outpost in Australia was to see one of my favorite groups live for the first time. We caught the first night of a four-day run at the Studio Theatre at the Sydney Opera House. For those not familiar with them, the trio stems from a combination of jazz with an organic inclination toward minimal forms of gradual development over extended time periods. Most of their CDs feature single pieces exploring that length. These in turn vary from more traditional harmonic/melodic constructs to pure excursions into color and texture. They never fail to bring something new to wherever their interests are at the moment. There are no traces of systems though, being guided by their musical intuition
This performance definitely drew more upon their adventuresome explorations expanding more into texture and color than any conventional scheme. Yet these elements were there. From an almost Feldmanesque beginning, as it they were defining some environment we are all in, they quickly shifted to their own language and vision and built a series of waves that would slowly build and transform. There was a section of some kind of 5 beat feeling ‘ expanding out where I found myself counting a 17 in the bass. The music was not intellectually focusing on such details; these were more the outcome of a more driving force into a highly melodic texture lead from the piano. While the piano would possibly ‘lead’, it was not so much that the others followed, more like a whole wave together with maybe foam being pushed along on the top. Here cascades of weaving lines sometime blurred yet holding concise shape. The video paralleled the structure of the music, likewise coming from three locales, and like the playing, one was constantly surprised by where the next development would come from. In the second even more abstract set the video went from an individual in a pool toward more prominence of the bubbled turbulence they would create
This performance definitely drew more upon their adventuresome explorations expanding more into texture and color than any conventional scheme. Yet these elements were there. From an almost Feldmanesque beginning, as it they were defining some environment we are all in, they quickly shifted to their own language and vision and built a series of waves that would slowly build and transform. There was a section of some kind of 5 beat feeling ‘ expanding out where I found myself counting a 17 in the bass. The music was not intellectually focusing on such details; these were more the outcome of a more driving force into a highly melodic texture lead from the piano. While the piano would possibly ‘lead’, it was not so much that the others followed, more like a whole wave together with maybe foam being pushed along on the top. Here cascades of weaving lines sometime blurred yet holding concise shape. The video paralleled the structure of the music, likewise coming from three locales, and like the playing, one was constantly surprised by where the next development would come from. In the second even more abstract set the video went from an individual in a pool toward more prominence of the bubbled turbulence they would create
Mesotonal
This seems to be a better term and allows a certain distance from what is known as microtonal music. 'Meso' is in between the micro and macro. Many of my other interest also are. The areas between pitch and noise (or just sound), the areas in between tempo and non tempo, tonality and non tonality, between melody and long durations and maybe most important as myself as a human being between the infinitely small and large. Perhaps it relates also to the Bardo, that island in between and the realization that this state is always with us.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Gendhing Popper
Pure form-
Imitate a swarm of gnats*. Players move in and out of being within the whole as they feel fit ( this can be physically but not limited to) . Being drawn back by some undetermined energy. It is understood that the group itself will transform, as is not a static entity
Translation A (for percussion)
'Tempo' becomes initial center of gravity. This works best outdoors where distance influences the ability to synchronize or not
Translation B (possibly for rock/jazz or other improvisers)
Let a groove (probably scale/melodic ideas as well as tempo) start the initial gravity within a group then each exploring moving away and towards as one wishes
Translation C (Microtonal)
Pitch (consonance/dissonance) becomes initial center of gravity. A grid is agreed upon before hand, although the application to Harrison’s concept of intonational ‘free style’ would be quite in keeping. Likewise, Diamonds, Lambdomas extended matrixes, combination product sets etc. all possible. Each ventures closer of further way as one wish. It might be conceivable to have central set in which is ventured from in unique individualistic ways an/or methods
Translation D ( any ensemble used to playing music based on a nuclear melody)
Keeping the above in mind. A pitch is chosen in which all player play at the same time with each recurrence being twice the length what it was the time before. In between, each player to free to play anything. Each duration or group of, or progressing sequences can be implemented or repeated in some predetermined manner. The progression should remain outward in time length and should not reduce.
Translation E (Psychological study )
Keeping the above in mind. Players move toward or away from the others by degrees of camouflage, in other words hiding their relationships with others by disruptive patterns.
Any or all of the above can be combined in any fashion even within a single performance. Other translations welcomed.
*Karl Popper used this image to describe an example of a working anarchistic system.
Imitate a swarm of gnats*. Players move in and out of being within the whole as they feel fit ( this can be physically but not limited to) . Being drawn back by some undetermined energy. It is understood that the group itself will transform, as is not a static entity
Translation A (for percussion)
'Tempo' becomes initial center of gravity. This works best outdoors where distance influences the ability to synchronize or not
Translation B (possibly for rock/jazz or other improvisers)
Let a groove (probably scale/melodic ideas as well as tempo) start the initial gravity within a group then each exploring moving away and towards as one wishes
Translation C (Microtonal)
Pitch (consonance/dissonance) becomes initial center of gravity. A grid is agreed upon before hand, although the application to Harrison’s concept of intonational ‘free style’ would be quite in keeping. Likewise, Diamonds, Lambdomas extended matrixes, combination product sets etc. all possible. Each ventures closer of further way as one wish. It might be conceivable to have central set in which is ventured from in unique individualistic ways an/or methods
Translation D ( any ensemble used to playing music based on a nuclear melody)
Keeping the above in mind. A pitch is chosen in which all player play at the same time with each recurrence being twice the length what it was the time before. In between, each player to free to play anything. Each duration or group of, or progressing sequences can be implemented or repeated in some predetermined manner. The progression should remain outward in time length and should not reduce.
Translation E (Psychological study )
Keeping the above in mind. Players move toward or away from the others by degrees of camouflage, in other words hiding their relationships with others by disruptive patterns.
Any or all of the above can be combined in any fashion even within a single performance. Other translations welcomed.
*Karl Popper used this image to describe an example of a working anarchistic system.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
The Uzawa Noh Troupe in Wollongong
It was a great pleasure to be able to represent Anaphoria Island during this groups three-day presence in Wollongong sponsored by its sister city Kawasaki. Ms Hisa Uzawa heads the troupe, maybe the most highly respected female Noh artist today. She is, I believe, the second female to have made this end road into one of the most exclusively male professions. For this visit, three other females joined her, including her daughter, Hikaru Uzawa, a very accomplished actor herself. The other two actors performed the role of the chorus. I was struck how the chorus commanded that role equal and quite fitting to any that I had heard. The musicians were male, and a very tight group that acted as one but there did not seem to be any real separation of energy between any of the sexes.
The evening performance of “Hagoromo” was to a sold out audience at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre. This was only the second time in my life I have seen Noh Theater live and while I have many recordings, I walked away with some new understandings. One was deeper how the drama builds in a way unlike western theater. Besides the restraint of it all, any increase in musical thickness and/or stage gesture, is seldom static for much longer than needed. It struck me with the similarity it has with various shamanistic practices of circulating around some point without going at it head on or it so not for long. . It is quite remarkable about how some small detail will be removed and only then do we realize how much of a ‘pillar’ it might have been acting as. Or in an opposite case, the lowest drum, the Taiko did not enter until the it seemed the halfway point and the when it does come in, it is hidden and done lightly and immediately covered but the two others drums who stood in force. Maybe others did not notice it, but it was still very dramatic and one could immediately feel how change became immanently implied. The complexity of the music is achieved by simple means, almost like chameleon adapting to the shifting energy at hand. Nothing is repeated very much or does not appear in the same way.
I had had a conversation with the Hip drummer about the use of the vocal sounds they intone before they strike. I had understood this as being the sound of a spiritual energy descending to our material world with the actual strike being the arrival. He stated that Noh represents reality and does so by using unrealistic means. Already in the previous days I had occupied myself with the relevance of ‘camouflage’ to music. As an aside it was a word that had been imposing itself upon me for some reason I could not explain. Here it seems to be one of the higher incorporations one could have of this idea.
I still remember my other live Noh encounter that included Maki Ishii’s piece for a single masked Noh actor who had to change expression in response to two recordings on separate speakers of a person laughing and crying but alternating in volume. It showed the power and capability of an actor to use the same mask yet change the expression. The day time performance of Lady Aoi, has a demon, and miraculously Ms Hisa Uzawa manage to invoke much beyond the initial horror, to where one could see how the demon was eating itself up and became almost pathetic. Here one could see how it represented many of human weaknesses that effect so many if not all of us, and what it does to it owner.
I was able to participate in the workshop where Hisa Uzawa quickly through us into quite a bit of detail and movement. This quite put me into a trance state that I immediately recognized as what is conveyed to the audience.
The evening performance of “Hagoromo” was to a sold out audience at the Illawarra Performing Arts Centre. This was only the second time in my life I have seen Noh Theater live and while I have many recordings, I walked away with some new understandings. One was deeper how the drama builds in a way unlike western theater. Besides the restraint of it all, any increase in musical thickness and/or stage gesture, is seldom static for much longer than needed. It struck me with the similarity it has with various shamanistic practices of circulating around some point without going at it head on or it so not for long. . It is quite remarkable about how some small detail will be removed and only then do we realize how much of a ‘pillar’ it might have been acting as. Or in an opposite case, the lowest drum, the Taiko did not enter until the it seemed the halfway point and the when it does come in, it is hidden and done lightly and immediately covered but the two others drums who stood in force. Maybe others did not notice it, but it was still very dramatic and one could immediately feel how change became immanently implied. The complexity of the music is achieved by simple means, almost like chameleon adapting to the shifting energy at hand. Nothing is repeated very much or does not appear in the same way.
I had had a conversation with the Hip drummer about the use of the vocal sounds they intone before they strike. I had understood this as being the sound of a spiritual energy descending to our material world with the actual strike being the arrival. He stated that Noh represents reality and does so by using unrealistic means. Already in the previous days I had occupied myself with the relevance of ‘camouflage’ to music. As an aside it was a word that had been imposing itself upon me for some reason I could not explain. Here it seems to be one of the higher incorporations one could have of this idea.
I still remember my other live Noh encounter that included Maki Ishii’s piece for a single masked Noh actor who had to change expression in response to two recordings on separate speakers of a person laughing and crying but alternating in volume. It showed the power and capability of an actor to use the same mask yet change the expression. The day time performance of Lady Aoi, has a demon, and miraculously Ms Hisa Uzawa manage to invoke much beyond the initial horror, to where one could see how the demon was eating itself up and became almost pathetic. Here one could see how it represented many of human weaknesses that effect so many if not all of us, and what it does to it owner.
I was able to participate in the workshop where Hisa Uzawa quickly through us into quite a bit of detail and movement. This quite put me into a trance state that I immediately recognized as what is conveyed to the audience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)