The score of "Stones" consists of just a few lines of text:
Make sounds with stones, draw sounds out of stones, using a number of
sizes and kinds (and colours); for the most part discretely; sometimes
in rapid sequences. For the most part striking stones wfth stones, but
also stones on other surfaces (inside the open head of a drum, for
instance) or other than struck (bowed, for instance, or amplified). Do
not break anything.
Christian Wolff, STONES, (from: Prose Collection, 1968-74)
While these instructions contain an abundance of possibilities, they
also exclude many things. The score describes a condition under which
things may happen, not a process in which things develop.
Seven composers participated in the present realization by the
Wandelweiser Komponisten Ensemble: Antoine Beuger, Jürg Frey,
Chico Mello, Michael Pisaro, Burkhard Schlothauer, Kunsu Shim und
Thomas Stiegler.
For this performance, each prepared, independently of the others,
between 10 and 20 events.The solutions, though compatible with the
score, were unique. Michael Pisaro, for example, made drawings on
stones, producing very gentle sounds. Burkhard Schlothauer sometimes
drew a large stone across the floor. Jürg Frey decided, that a
single sound might well last long time. Thus, 27 minutes of quietly
rubbing two very uneven limestones, is considered as one event. Thomas
Stiegler used a violin and violin bow as the surface upon which all of
his events took place. Kunsu Shim began performing his nearly
inaudible, subtle sounds only after about 55 minutes had elapsed.
While playing this CD you may forget, after a while, that it is
playing. All of a sudden you might hear a little stone, sometime,
somewhere. After an initial ,,What is that?", you'll suddenly realize:
,,Oh yes, it's the CD!".
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