»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.
I kunstens tjeneste – jeg bukker mig i mudderet
Det smukkeste ved cellist Cæcilie Trier (CTM) og danser Skjold Rambows gennemgående smukke performance Bow på en over- og sidedækket Platform-scene var ikke kun Rambows ophævelse af tyngdekraften i langsomme, baglæns flikflak og breakdancede positurer. Det var heller ikke, at celloen lød fuld af mørk krop i sin forstærkning, men samtidig også svævende med en lækker rumklang. Eller at de to performere virkede i total harmoni og holdt øjenkontakten, mens Rambow hvirvlede rundt i balletsko og skakternet joggingtøj. Nej, det smukkeste var selve gestussen: at Trier lod den klassiske musik stå så uforfængeligt til rådighed for en samlet kunstnerisk helhed, hvor sløve hiphopbeats og insisterende skælvebas fyldte lige så meget som hendes enkle, let forsirede buebølger og korte mønstre.
Det slog gnister. Næsten bogstaveligt, da Rambow undervejs samlede en trommestik op og slog den mod et bækken, så hele kroppen blæste bagud i en eksplosion. Eller i poetisk forstand, da Trier lod det voldsomme regnskyl udenfor spejle i et soundscape af dryp.
Men først og fremmest i en sublim finale, hvor et let beat og celloens lyse flimren ledsagede Rambows fald ud i publikum. Ikke et hvilket som helst publikum, dog. For straks rejste de syv mænd, han landede i, sig og løftede den døde krop mod loftet. Det gav et sug i maven. At Roskilde Festival kan opbyde den slags visuel-akustisk poesi på en torsdag ved frokosttid – i øsende regnvejr – er næsten for godt til at være sandt. Jeg bukker mig i mudderet.
»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.