Merz Re [#1] (2022)

music for loudspeakers 

 

Merz Re [#1] uses recordings of performances of four of my original graphic scores from my Open Graphic Research Project as its main sonic material. As such, the work draws heavily from the Musique Concrète genre where recorded sounds are used as the foundation of the music.

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Merz Re [#1] is inspired by dada artist Kurt Schwitters and his concept of Merz. I was intrigued by his Merzbau which was a sculpture installation work that was built on and into different houses where Schwitters resided throughout his life. Schwitters would often “bring friends and artists over to contribute to a room, a shelf, or a column”. Like Schwitters’ Merzbau my work is based on the collaborations I have had working with performers to sonify my open graphic scores.

The work is also heavily inspired by Japanese noise artist Merzbow. The name Merzbow reflects Akita’s dadaist influence and junk aesthetic which is characterized through the use of homemade instruments and analog equipment.

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Merz Re [#1} has been presented in its multichannel version with an octophonic loudspeaker setup at Concert Zero at the University of Toronto in 2022 and at Forum Wallis Swiss Contemporary Music Festival in 2023.

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Performers:
Sylvia Hinz, recorders
Freddi Börnchen, oboe
Stef Haynes, saxophone
Shane Parish, electric guitar
Brian Ellis, classical guitar and voice
Tristan Zaba, voice
Scott Jodoin, piano
Dejana Sekluic, violin
Tim Roth, percussion
Jasmine Tsui, percussion
Joyce To, percussion
Cameron Denby, percussion
Nolan Hildebrand, “no-input mixer”