»Who ever said that music is ‘just’ music? To me, it is anything but that: an urge to understand and explain it all. A piece of jewelry I wear every single day. A joy that can, at times, run deep. An ever-changing imprint of millions of stitches in my heart. A longing to disappear.«
Henrik Marstal is a musician, author, and music researcher. He holds a PhD in musicology, is a senior lecturer at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory, and frequently appears in the media as an expert source on music. His areas of interest include contemporary music, such as electronic music. This winter, he will release both a new album with the pop group ibens and a book about Else Marie Pade, published by the British publishing house Bloomsbury.
Til rave med Teletubbies
»Nu kan alt ske, lige om lidt kommer Alexandra flyvende gennem ruden.« Jeg overhørte denne kommentar, mens vi ventede på at blive lukket ind i Koncertkirken. Døren gik op, og fire væsener med kæmpe papmachéhoveder og tylskørt lukkede os ind. Til en scenografi, der bestod af et bur bygget af neonrør. Oh yes, alt kan ske nu, tænkte jeg og trådte ind i en verden af tyl, pap, neon og teletubbier fra mine dybeste mareridt.
Koncerten vekslede mellem kropsligt performanceteater, hvor lyden kom fra de mange mikrofoner, der var sat i neonburet, og ravemusik af den type, man går til klokken tre om natten på Roskilde. Fire sortklædte mænd i helt hvide høje hæle udførte to forskellige, velkoreograferede serier med hælene som percussion. Senere så vi fire hvidklædte kvinder, bundet sammen i et stort stykke stof, binde snore på kryds og tværs af buret for herved at skabe musik, når de kastede sig mod stoffet og kun blev holdt af de andre. Jeg sad på kanten af mit sæde, hver gang en af performerne var ved at falde, hvilken intensitet!
Men mest fascinerende var kontrasten, da ravemusikken begyndte at spille og de fire stagehands tilfældigt, men effektivt fjernede alle paprørene fra neonburet. Ravets uplanlagte koreografi af kroppe, der intuitivt vidste, hvor de skulle hen, til de elektroniske og prædefinerede rytmer, rundede fint aftenen af, da de nu otte mareridts-teletubbier dansede rundet i salen. Jeg er stadig ikke sikker på, hvad der skete – men nøj!
»For me, music is at its best when it appeals to both the head and the heart. I love music that plays with language and understands how words create images, while also possessing its own unique sonic quality and mood. It’s an added bonus if the music energizes me during a run, makes me dance in the kitchen, or makes me laugh. Or cry. Music can be like a chocolate-coated marshmallow treat with a surprise inside.«
Lone Hørslev is an author of poetry, novels, and song lyrics, as well as the TV series Den gode stemning. Together with Mads Mouritz, she forms one half of the Mouritz/Hørslev Project, and she recently wrote lyrics for the musical theatre production STOLT in collaboration with Katrine Muff. The songs can be found on the album Jeg ønsker mig.