Behouden Stem

for baritone or mezzo soprano and two percussionists

subtitle

Conversations with M.

year of composition

1998

duration

ca 30'

text

This work was commissioned by Muziektheater Transparant in 1998. It was composed to accompany a film by Remco Van Damme and Allel el Berkani. It is a live performance of a film score (a combination of film, live music and theatre). The song “Con che soavità” from Claudio Monteverdi's 7th book of madrigals forms the basis of the entire composition. Much of the material – melodic, harmonic and rhythmic – is based on this song. Although fragments of the song can sometimes be heard, Wim Henderickx created a score that is entirely his own. The instrumentation (baritone or mezzo-soprano and two percussionists) and the largely aleatoric notation contribute to the alienating impression left by this composition.

instrumentation

Percussion 1, Percussion 2, Baritone (or Mezzo soprano)

first performance date

16.03.1998

first performance place

De Singel, Antwerp, Belgium

first performance by

Radoslaw Wielgus, baritone, Wim Henderickx and Gert François, percussion

commissioned by

commissioned by Muziektheater Transparant