»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.
Når luft bliver kraft
Lille VEGAs intime rum dannede rammerne for innovativ vokallyd i stort format, da Ars Nova og dirigent Paul Hillier kombinerede forløsende origamisanselighed fra Caroline Shaw med Signe Lykkes dystopiske digitalspejlinger med klar intonation og imponerende musikalsk overskud.
De lillabelyste luftstrømme flød først fra Bjarke Mogensens susende akkordeon i en opvarmningsakt af intens virtuositet. Musikken spændte bredt fra en livlig russisk dans og melankolske åndedrag fra Bornholm til rørende kvarttonemusik af Sune Cølster, Lil Lacys store cinematiske vingesus og eksplosive kadencebevægelser fra Anders Koppels akkordeonkoncert nr. 2.
Amerikanske Caroline Shaw kender indgående til stemmens potentialer, hvilket stod klart i How to fold the wind, et værk inspireret af den gamle japanske origamikunst. Som et enkelt stykke papir, der transformeres til en smuk skulptur, blev sangernes stemmer formet som hyper-fleksible instrumenter med alle dets muligheder – sprog, tale, klang og åndedrag – men altid med menneskelig varme, sublim sanselighed og intens nærhed.
Det organiske papir blev forvandlet til pixeleret selvforvrængning i Signe Lykkes I shall feed my eyes. Værket beskæftiger sig med skyggesiden af vores digitale virkelighed og er en rejse ind bag skærmens sorte tomhed. Berøringshungrende kvartfald og ekstatiske overtoner i koret blev overvåget og splintret køligt i Anders Stig Møllers elektroniske lydunivers, og evigt scrollende toner og fraser forsøgte konstant at række ud efter den næste, men nåede aldrig derhen, før de krakelerede i metalliske fragmenter og digital ekkobrus.
»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.