Day 4: Reflections on the First Days

Three days into the festival, and there is just so much to say!

I had a chat with Benji after the classes yesterday and we talked for hours about what we've been learning. Our heads are full with inspiration and possibilities. I'll start with some new insights from Jonathan Burrow's workshop

What we have been doing in his workshop is going along the process he used for the last piece he created with Matteo Fargion. 

It starts with creating the simplest of movement phrases. Nothing ambitious, nothing even spectacular or interesting. In fact, it's almost irritating to make because it's so dull. He calls this "Empty, inadequate movement". It is made within a structure A, B, C, D where A is comprised of 4 'things' (movements, gestures, actions etc) B is 8, C is 6 and D is 2. It is then placed in the structure ABACDCAB. This is a reference to "La Folia"from Vivaldi. A deviation from the pattern is optional on the 2nd and 3rd A, for instance a slight pause or change of speed.

It is a system for producing movement phrases to be used in a larger context. Place a title next to it, and suddenly the piece has context and movement has inferences. 

There are lots of interesting things that arise from using a set structure to make a phrase rather than personal preference or choice. What appeared meaningless gains meaning in the structure whether that was the intended outcome or not. It happens outside of the creators control. Especially when the title given is also a randomized process. Then there is the question of how the material is performed. Does one acknowledge the connections which happen by chance?