iris ter schiphorst

"GESTURES" is only a choral song in the second part, but in its long first part it is more of a scenic work than a piece of music, more of a 'filmic narrative' than a 'composition'.

This part is held together by the piano music (prepared piano!), which - as in an old silent film - provides the musical and emotional framework for the visuals.

The 5 singers are the 'main characters' of this imagined film; serious, elegantly dressed, expressive. They are 'moved' in the truest sense of the word by the piano music.

All their signs and gestures must appear very natural and self-evident - in no way 'artificell' or even silly. They can also be quite unspectacular movements (such as crossing legs, crossing arms etc. ...). The suggested text for finding a 'symbol' or gesture serves primarily as inspiration.

(To clarify: it always refers to an overall physical movement that includes facial expressions, gestures, arms, posture in general, etc.). This movement should have a very linguistic effect, in fact 'tell something'. ). The corresponding note values indicate the exact duration of these movements. A total of 15 'gestures', 'signs' must be found, some of which are repeated, but not always performed by all singers.

List the relevant words that have to be 'translated' into gestures/signs/movements:
1) "sign" (all singers)
2) "I never see" (singers 1+3)
3) "my head door opens" (singers 4+5)
4) "I can't get any further" (1+3)
5) "My ear shutters are closing (4+5)
6) "I look again every time" (1+3)
7) "Not into the city" (2+4)
8) "the foot kicks a counterpart" (1+3)
9) "again" (1)
10) "into" (1)
11) "memory" (3)
12) "now" (3)
13.) "the head is running" (all)
14) "someone closes the door in front of me" (all)
15) "extension of my ears" (all)