Dance of the Gods

Wim Henderickx composed this work for DROM, an enthusiastic group of percussionists led by Jo Zanders, on commission from Matrix (New Music Centre). The premiere was at the Festival 20-21 in Leuven in October 2019. The score is partly notated in traditional notation and partly in graphic notation. The musicians are given room for improvisation, and aleatoric elements (the deliberate use of chance) play an important role in this piece. The composition consists of an introduction, four dances (Sacred Dance, Trance Dance, Sensual Dance and Dance of Death) and an epilogue. The basic ideas for this work are grooves and experimental sound moments. The theatrical and spatial aspects are very important in the performance. The instruments consist of drums, shakers and objects trouvés such as stones, etc. Body percussion and the musicians' voices are also used (primitive sounds, throat singing, ethnic use of the voice), creating stirring rhythms and sounds.