Bl!ndman (Drums)

WOLFE, LANG, CENDO, NAS

BL!NDMAN [drums] plays groundbreaking work by vibrant composers, including two tough women. All prejudices about percussion (boring, one-sided, cold, non-binding) are shattered with great dedication. A drum set quartet starts with seven minutes of nothing but hi-hats. Against a hectic sixteenth note pulse, Julia Wolfe explores the almost symphonic wealth of timbres of the double cymbal. Gradually the entire drum sets allow themselves to be carried away in a whirlpool of rhythms pumping against each other. David Lang then very subtly undermines false certainties. Four percussionists play slightly different parts in unison on instruments made with flower pots and teacups. Elusive variations in timbre and rhythm keep the listener glued to his seat. Cendo, for his part, grotesquely lets flowing marimba melodies fan out into starkly contrasting percussion sounds. But it is Mayke Nas who pushes the boundaries of percussion the most. Based on a play by Peter Handke, four people write self-reproaches in a strict rhythm with chalk on a blackboard and wipe them away again. It produces a captivating piece of percussion theater.