Blow Out
wind ensemble and video images
4 trp. 5 trb. tb. 3 sax 2 cl. b.cl. ob. bsn. pf. e.git e.bass 2 x perc. samples, video
composed and filmed by Arnoud Noordegraaf
art director: Anthony Sgard
written for the David Kweksilber Bigband
filmed on location in Xiamen, China and in a studio in Amsterdam
premiere 7 June 2008, David Kweksilber Bigband, BIMhuis Amsterdam, Holland Festival 2008
Blow Out explores the vast dynamic range of a large wind ensemble, that is just as much a big band as a modern ensemble. During my residency in China I encountered abandoned buildings, touched by the elements over many years, especially by the wind, blowing them to pieces, sometimes slowly, sometimes in a fast rage.
Aging this way, these unfinished concrete structures turn into something reminiscent of ancient Greek temples.
In his Amsterdam studio, Anthony Sgard built a scale model of these ruins, and using powerful wind turbines we ran a storm through the structure. In the concert hall, the images are projected on a wide scrim just above the ensemble. They explore both exterior and interior parts of the huge concrete skeleton, the camera always very slowly moving sideways, creating a calm, seemingly objective viewpoint.
video credits:
concept and production: Arnoud Noordegraaf
first assistant on location in Xiamen: Chen Wei
art director: Anthony Sgard
turbines: Singel Film
filming the miniature model by Anthony Sgard:
photos of the Chinese film shoot:
