»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.
Der er så tyst i Ørestaden
En elektronisk produceret drone tystnede det ellers snakkesalige publikum i kunsthallen Simian, der onsdag aften fremstod som en stor åben kælder badet i blåt lys. Her havde den svenske lydkunstner, komponist, musiker m.m. Catherine Christer Hennix samlet en reduceret udgave af den nydannede gruppe Kamigaku Ensemble: Udover Hennix selv på det japanske rørbladsinstrument shō var også ligeledes svenske Ellen Arkbro på trompet og Marcus Pal på elektronik og stemme. Trompettonerne var lange og kun afbrudt af behovet for at trække vejret. Snart kom Hennix på shō med og Pal med messende sang. Forholdet mellem de fire elementer – den kontinuerlige drone, den æteriske shō, den jordnære trompet og den menneskelige sangstemme – udviklede sig på små, men meget interessante måder. Musikerne var i en konstant søgen efter hinandens tonearter, og når de mødte hinanden rigtigt, ringede samklangen på den helt magiske måde.
Således oscillerede de tre musikere koncerten igennem, en opbyggende bølgegang mellem fundet og mistet samstemmighed i en kælderstilhed, der kun aperiodisk blev afbrudt af publikums skridt, host og ølåbning. Intet andet end skønheden i Hennix, Arkbro og Pals søgen efter indbyrdes harmoni. Koncerten sluttede med den samme enkeltstående drone som den startede med, og en vis forvirring over, hvorvidt opførslen rent faktisk var færdig. For mit vedkommende kunne de tre musikere godt have fortsat en stund endnu.
»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.