Void

VOID/SUNYATA was composed in 2006-2007 on commission from Muziektheater Transparant. Wim Henderickx conducted this production at various international venues (Zurich, Antwerp, Stavanger, Zwolle, Bruges and Rotterdam). This score for five singers, ensemble and electronics forms the fourth part of Wim Henderickx's Tantric Cycle, a series of compositions based on Eastern philosophy and Buddhism. For the musical structure of the piece, Wim Henderickx drew on the Buddhist Shri Yantra, an abstract geometric figure that serves as a guide for meditation and the development of consciousness. The music is liberated from the compulsive nature of spoken language. There is no story and the words have no semantic meaning. Inspired by the concept of emptiness (sunyata) after travelling in the Far East, the composer also applied this non-language in Nada Brahma (3rd part of the Tantric Cycle) and in Disappearing in Light (5th part of this cycle). The five instruments (violin, cello, flute, clarinet and trombone) are each linked to a specific voice. For example, the vocal artist Phil Minton and the trombone form a whole. Wim Henderickx worked closely with his musical assistant Diederik Glorieux and with Jorrit Tamminga (live electronics) to develop this score. Visual concept by Hans Op de Beeck. Video: Gert Op de Beeck and choreography: Vivian Cruz. The score consists of the following parts: - PROLOGUE 1. BINDU 2. FEMALE TRIANGLE 3. AKASHA 4. MALE TRIANGLE 5. AIR 6. CIRCLE 7. FIRE 8. SQUARE 9. WATER 10. LOTUS 11. EARTH 12. FINAL BINDU - EPILOGUE