Keep quiet and dance

other versions

Keep quiet and dance #1

for voice, clarinet, percussion, violin, cello and electronics

premiere
03.05.2019 Bijloke Campus Ghent | Nemø ensemble

duration
7:30 min

technical setup
all instruments are amplified, voice with effect device, tape

Keep quiet and dance #2

for 4-channel voice, flute, clarinet, saxophone, percussion, violin, viola, cello, video & fixed media

premiere
23.03.2019 Tonlagenfestival Hellerau | Ensemble Garage

duration
14:00 min

technical setup
all instruments are amplified, 4-channel tape with pre-recorded voice, electric transformation of marimba sound, scenic elements

Keep quiet and dance #3

for voice, percussion, string ensemble (3.3.3.2.1) and tape

premiere
29.04.2019 Elbphilharmonie Hamburg | Ensemble Resonanz & Derya Yildirim

duration
8:30 min

technical setup
all instruments are amplified, voice with effect device, tape

program notes

Keep quiet and dance was originally written for the European-Egyptian Contemporary Music Ensemble and the singer Kamilya Jubran.
The piece follows the idea of a song developing it’s own rules by denying and incorporating different kinds of material and building it’s own musical consistency. The title is a quotation of  the last words of Electra when she died. She’s a kind of opposite figure to Nawal Saadawi, who’s voice appears as a second layer in the piece. These two female figures are representing the powerful force of reaching a state of impersonality by following the idea of a rebellion. But the forces behind are very different: Electras enormous uncontrolled force, leaded by feelings of hate and revenge and Saadawis calm and resistant moves towards a better society are two very present polarities determining social  and political developments.
keep quiet and dance follows the idea of an open work – I re-write, re-work on it for different contexts, for different singers with different cultural backgrounds, for different formats of presentation.