Punkt

[silentwings]

Off to Norway on Thursday for Punkt, with many David Sylvian and related activities.... ...looking forward to the experience very much.....

[silentwings]

....Plight and Premonition has always been a favourite piece, I wonder what it will sound like in this new context...

[Snowborne]

My flight and hotel is booked and paid, the babysitter is ready , my better half is now convinced that this is worth spending time on, my boss kindly gave me some days off, and I'm just ready to have a good time ! Hope to see you there!

[baht habit]

Enjoy...as I am sure you will. It appears as though a lot of activities are planned, and this may help in some way to sort out exactly which of the various performances and clinics you wish to witness:

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/ ... _07eyymRkg

[silentwings]

Thanks Baht, that's a great brochure isn't it.... I booked my festival pass, flights and accommodation on the basis of the installation and the Plight & Premonition concert... ...now I have live music by Manafon musicians at the installation, seminars by John Tilbury, Evan Parker and Chris Bigg, new music from Dai Fujikura and the entire Cartography concert to look forward to... ...and I'll no doubt be surprised by other items on the programme...

It's going to be a wonderful few days...

[Blemished]

Absolutely kicking myself for not booking tickets in time...looks like an amazing 'Sylvian-world' line-up. I hope those of you going have a great time.

Please ask David (or his management) to release the performance of P&P in some form...I know he never does but I'm intrigued to hear what it will sound like.

In the meantime David has posted some pics of rehearsals on Facebook and Twitter.

http://t.co/7QRYLIZ
http://t.co/UDdJTVy
http://t.co/VA67Bd6

Nice to see the familiar white shoes!

For the musos out there, interesting to see some of the gadgets: the familiar steinberger guitar, the Roland RE-20 space echo pedal and the tc electronic pedal - that and the mac - I guess he must be triggering samples off that to be mixed in within the live performance.

[silentwings]

A truly amazing opening night at the Punkt festival here in Kristiansand
last night.

The Sorlandet Art Museum hosts David Sylvian and Atsushi Fukui's Uncommon
Deities installation. Last night was the opening event. After an
introduction from the museum's director and Fiona Talkington of Radio 3's
Late Junction, there was a brief wait before the installation opened. This
gave an opportunity to visit a separate small exhibition of Atsushi's work
in a separate 'paper room'. Here there were works familiar to David's
fans, including the cover image of 'World Citizen', and the original 'David
with rabbit' and 'Manafon fox' works, and some images familiar from his
website design.

Then the installation opened. Those present (c200?) sat on the floor and
listened to the playing of Arve Henriksen and Evan Parker, and readings in
Norwegian by Paal-Helge Haugen and Nils Christian Moe-Repstad. The playing
was against the backdrop of David's installation music which surrounded us
- as did Atsushi's work on the theme of 'the botanist' image of the united
male and female form.

This was so intimate a surrounding - it was breathtaking to hear Arve and
Evan's playing almost without amplification. Inspirational. Fascinating
to hear how Arve half sings through his instrument.

Erik Honore, co founder of Punkt, announced a short break, after which John
Tilbury played on a grand piano in the installation room, with the
incredible singing of Sidsel Endresen and turntable work of Philip Jeck,
again accompanying David's installation music. This time each artist moved
aside after their contributions, first Endresen and then Tilbury, to leave
us listening to the fascinating turntable work of Jeck.

There were readings, this time in English, by David, from the Uncommon
Deities text, which was available in a small book in Norwegian and English.

Since David appeared from the sound desk high at the back of the
installation room following the performance, these readings may have been
read live.

A wonderful relaxed atmosphere afterwards, with artists sharing drinks and
chatting amongst themselves. Jan Bang was also present, as was Tim Motzer.
David spoke to some of the participants and was around the venue for some
time after the performance.

This is my first Punkt, and I must say I am impressed with all the thought
and inspiration that has gone into the installation event itself, and the
relaxed atmosphere of respect between artists and attendees.

[inkinthewell]

Oh you lucky sod!

[Six One Cynic]

I want you to know just how fortunate you are, you don't need to be down on anything for a while after this event, you were closer to David Sylvian than most of us will ever get. Ever. You are blessed to be at this event!

[silentwings]

I could write so much about Day 2 at Punkt. I'll try to provide an
overview to give a sense of the day as I experienced it. And yes, I know
how fortunate I am to be here and experience this, a true highlight of many
years of avidly following David's work and that of his collaborators.

The seminar programme is being held at the nearby university - and
encouragingly is being attended by a large number of students. I walked up
and out of Kristiansand in time for the first seminar - Philip Jeck in
conversation with Fiona Talkington. Philip was later to appear on stage
with David and he spoke warmly of his work with turntables, and how it had
developed over the years. He showed a DVD clip of his 'Requiem for Vinyl'
featuring an orchestra of 180 record players, each with their own in-built
speaker. A humble, genuine man.

Next Evan Parker spoke. He read from his Ipad a pre-prepared paper
considering 'composition' and 'improvisiation' - are they really
opposites..? ie composition means simply to 'put' 'together' - and isn't
improvisation therefore composition? Again, so humble, with warmth and
humour. He ran out of time (after nearly an hour) but the paper will be
published in full. You are left with a sense of a lifetime dedicated to
improvisation and with still much undiscovered.

Next, samadhisound graphic artist Chris Bigg spoke about his work in
general and that with David in particular. He lives on the Isle of Wight,
UK, and spoke with warmth and admiration about David's artistic spirit and
sensibility. We saw some of the work-in-progress of covers including
Sleepwalkers, and the just-finished cover for the new expanded DVD release
of 'Amplified Gesture' that is advertised in the brochure here - to be
released next month. Chris has also designed some art prints soon to be
available from samadhi.

I then wandered back into town and up towards the venue for the evening
concert and had the amazing experience of passing David and Yuka walking
back from the theatre to their hotel with Fiona Talkington and a member of
David's management team. Somehow you want to say 'thanks' for the
inspiration and richness that his music has brought over so many years, but
you also want to respect his privacy.

At 5pm the David Sylvian-curated evening concerts began with a scandinavian
quartet of violin, viola, cello and clarinet playing works by Dai Fujikura.
As you may know, Dai has recently become a father and wasn't present, but
his works were played with vigour and precision, including solo pieces for
cello, violin and clarinet, a trio and quartet piece. We heard the world
premiere of 'Scion Stems', commissioned by Punkt and dedicated to David
Sylvian.

After the 40 minute concert I attended the 'live remix' of the work by Jan
Bang and Erik Honore, in the Alpha theatre at the complex, supplemented
with the incredible vocals of Sidsel Endreson. Sidsel really does use her
voice like an instrument. Stunning.

Next on the main stage were John Tilbury, Evan Parker, John Russell
(guitar) and Okkyung Lee (cello). 40 mins of improvisation from sparse to
dense, from the delicate to the fierce. Captivating to watch what I had
read about and seen on 'Amplified Gesture', unfolding before my eyes. Some
very complex and invigorating playing. You really feel the trust and
connection that exists between the musicians.

The prelude to David's appearance was Toshimaru Nakamura ('Egrets' and
'Manafon' contributor) with others as Koboku Senju. More improvisation,
with guitar, and brass including tuba, giving depth to the sound and
contrasting with the high pitches of the sound waves from Toshimaru's
mixer. (I had spotted Toshimaru sitting in the audience during the
previous contribution, listening intently like us all).

I stayed in the theatre to watch the stage being set for 'Plight and
Premonition'. The set up was, from left to right, John Tilbury on grand
piano; Erik Honore with laptops and mixer; David with guitar and
electronics; Jan Bang, mixer and electronics; Eivind Aarset, guitar; Philip
Jeck, turntables; and Arve Henriksen on trumpet and up-right
keyboard/organ.

As the curtain went back David sat in white baseball cap and glasses, as
the bass of the piece started. Plight and Premonition were played as one,
and the motifs familiar to those who love this piece as I do were
all there, with additional textures from the line-up of musicians gathered
for the special rendition. I have really enjoyed Arve Henriksen's
contributions at the festival - some beautiful textures to set against the
electronics.

Perhaps one day this will be released so that more can enjoy the
performance, and those of us fortunate to witness it can hear it again.

I enjoyed a drink in the bar as some of the musicians came through - Evan
Parker, John Tilbury, John Russell, Jan Bang and Arve Henriksen included,
chatting with the audience that remained.

I returned to the hotel blessed indeed to have enjoyed such a day.

[Simonp]

found a couple of pics of the event on flickr...first thoughts were...what the hell is he wearing on his head??? lol

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kengurufot ... /lightbox/

[inkinthewell]

I'll try to provide an overview to give a sense of the day as I experienced it.

Very well done and thank you so much for it.

[silentwings]

Day 3 of Punkt started for me with a seminar given by John Tilbury,
advertised as 'Confessions of a piano player', but better described - in
John's own words - as 'Musings of a piano player'. He began by reflecting
on the role that chance had played in his life - for instance, in his not
being injured in wartime Britain - and how this carries over into the
context of his improvised music. He spoke about how during a performance
he gave of a work by Morton Feldman in Austria he saw two women weeping, as
an illustration of the power and importance of music making. Finally, he
raised questions about the cultural and political context of music - for
instance, what if his music was bringing solace to an authoritarian leader
who was abusing his power...? Thought provoking material.

In the afternoon there was an additional performance at the Sorlander Art
museum. No spoken word as on Day 1, but improvisations by each of Evan
Parker, percussionist Ingar Zach and guitarist Stian Westerhus. Again I
was amazed by Evan's playing, a continuous stream of sound, loop-like in
quality, and at the same time using the percussive qualities of the keys on
the instrument. He gave way to Zach who was later to feature on stage with
David as part of Arve Henriksen's performance. He used a variety of
techniques to generate texture - a radio placed on a large drum with
frequencies adjusted to produce deep reverberation; a cymbal - bounced on
end across the drum, played with a bow, blown through as it sat on the
drumskin; small metal pots ringing and rotating. Westerhus's guitar was
at first intricate and finally ear-splittingly loud - too difficult to
describe his technique or sound in words.

The evening programme commenced with Jan Bang on stage with
trumpeter/vocalist Per Jorgensen and drummer/percussionist Marilyn Mazur.
Mazur had a huge set of percussion and leapt about the stage striking the
drums, bells, cymbals - and even a shopping trolley! This was
enthusiastically received.

Before the main event of the evening for me - Arve Henriksen's 'special
edition' Cartography concert with live readings by David Sylvian - I
attended a remix of a Susanne Sundfor and Sacred Harp performance given by
Guy Sigsworth and Nils Petter Molvaer. Fascinating to hear two more
Sylvian-related musicians live.

The set up for Cartography was Jan Bang (mixer, electronics), Ingar Zach
(percussion), Anna Maria Friman (vocals), Arve Henriksen (trumpet, vocals),
David Sylvian (spoken word), Eivind Aarset (guitar) and Erik Honore
(laptops, mixer). This was a beautiful rendition of Henriksen's album in
full. As the curtain went up Henriksen sat under a single spotlight, with
David - wearing glasses but no cap this evening - beside him. David read
the achingly personal words of 'Before and Afterlife', lit for the most
part by the backlight of the Ipad from which he read, before slipping off
stage. He returned later for 'Thermal'. Cartography is a fine piece, and
if like me you have concentrated on the pieces featuring David, play
'Sorrow and Its Opposite' and enjoy...!

A final treat for the event was a remix of the performance of John Paul
Jones and Helge Sten, given by Nils Petter Molvaer, Eivind Aarset, Jan
Bang, Erik Honore and Marilyn Mazur.

And so ends David Sylvian's 'artist in residency' at Punkt 2011. This is a
unique event built on the passion of Jan Bang and Erik Honore, and I'm glad
that their passion captured David's imagination to bring him here.

[Blemished]

Thanks so much for the updates from Punkt, silentwings. Really enjoyed them.

There are some more photos on Madli's flickr page (in addition to the ones linked to on the other Punkt thread). There's a great one of David peering at his Mac through his glasses like some eccentric sound professor.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/madli/

There's also some pictures and comments on a German site, Manafonistas.

http://manafonistas.de/

That site also has a couple of quite amusing diary entries (based on GoogleTranslate slightly erratic translation) that mention encounters with David.

In the first, entitled 'The invisible eyes of David Sylvian', our Dave completely blanks Manafonista's intrepid correspondent...

When I met Sylvian 2009 in Hamburg, his eyes hidden behind sunglasses. He took his glasses off and not, as we are to interview in the dark corner of a hotel hallway settled.
Yesterday evening I stepped off the elevator of the Hotel Norge, Sylvian and saw immediately before me. The sunglasses had the same tone, maybe he has hoarded more of these sunglasses, but I strongly suspect it was the same sunglasses. He came on straight, Jan Bang and Erik Honore had picked him up from the airport.
- Ah, hello, I said to Sylvian, and looked friendly place where I suspected his eyes. His reaction was not about to wait, no, they did not take place. It shone through me hindurchzublicken when I was "the invisible man" in a science-fiction story. Sensitive natures might feel offended easily, I had luckily just smile, and asked me whether a certain aloofness (or coolness) are the price paid by some high-wire artists of the survivors.

By the second, David has thawed out apparently....

David Sylvian seemed to be thawed and clearly enjoyed his role of curator in the days. Although his eyes were hidden during the day of farewell behind sunglasses, but he seemed to be more open to people outside his immediate circle. I reminded him of our interview in Hamburg 2009 and told him about my activities as a "music buyer". Finally, I could give him a wring "Yes, please!" At the idea of presenting his live rendition of "Plight & Premonition" in Germany of radio in a unique performance, finally, I said Sylvian, the music would be so in some ways come back to the place where it arose.

Not quite sure what this means - any German speakers here? Suggests that he is open to a further performance or at least transmission of P&P in Germany which, as the blogger suggests, has a nice symmetry to it.

Does anybody know Holger Czukay is by the way? It seems a pity that he wasn't at Punkt.

[Chet]

so sad i couldn't be there... but what an ugly head piece!