GRAFT




 

(for four performers, electronics, video and light)


 

DURATION:

ca. 25'​

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INSTRUMENTATION: 

4 exercising performers

laptop performer with MIDI controller

video

stereo playback

DMX controllable lighting

Live electronics (processing of floor microphones in Max)

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[2025]




 

Written as part of a concert I curated for Current Resonance's 2025 season.

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Credits:

Voice acting during intro and outro: Jan Giedroyc

Assistance filming / interviewing in interlude #3: Emil Vijgen

Video documentation of the concert: Spektrals 

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About:

GRAFT oscillates between sections of gamified, endurance-based exercise and video interludes featuring interviews with each of the performers in Current Resonance (Matthew, Dylan, Joss, Michael), who respectively divulge details about their relationships to absurd and idiosyncratic work routines and duties. 

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During these interludes, the performers relentlessly perform jumping jacks. The floor beneath their feet is amplified and fed through resonators so the impact of their bodies results in bell-like frequencies as they hit the ground.

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Whether they're holding planks, lateral raises with dumbbells or performing push ups, each performer's actions are tethered to a note in a 4-note chord (sustained recordings of the performer's voices doubled with various synthesised oscillators). As soon as one of the performers fails the exercise, their respective note in the chord begins to gradually sink out of tune. Only re-engaging with the exercise can begin to re-tune their note, but with each successive section, it gets harder and harder for them to reach the starting pitch again.

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The 4 performers' grunts, strains and panting are amplified throughout the piece, ushering in a very gradual crescendo in the involuntary sounds of exertion.

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How hard are the performers willing to work? What does their sustained effort sound like? What are they working towards and who benefits from their labour?

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The compositional process for this piece was supported by a working scholarship from KODA Kultur/Dansk Komponistforening

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