GEERT-JAN HOBIJN
A concert for the two ends of the Zuidas
The `Geluidas'-project forms an unique concert that uses the existing metropolitan sounds and mixes these sounds with characteristic sounds of the city of Amsterdam. Altogether these sounds transform into a harmonious composition. The concert exists out of two parts which have a strong consistency but are in composition and intensity different.
The first part is a composition for a city in gestation with the city itself as the main instrument. This first concert takes place in the centre of the Zuidas with a concentration of the public on the axle between south square (Zuid Plein) and the Mahlerplein. On first Monday of the month at twelve o'clock all sirens are tested which makes the city sing. During the concert a duet will be contracted with this auditive characteristic moment in the city. A duet that exists from on the one hand the same voices (engine driven sirens - the old model that changes tones when the voltage is changed) and on the other side contrasting urban voices, such as Midi-controlled organs which will be played live by well-known musicians. These traditional sounds of Amsterdam, plus dynamic sounds of the Zuidas, such as ambulances and a helicopter of the VU-hospital, pile-drivers of the towers that are under construction and modern sounds from the bass speakers of a group of boom cars make the complexion of this unique orchestra complete.
All these instruments form the ingredients of a complete city orchestra: with the melody line of organs, rhythm section and low frequencies of the boom cars and the high tones of the sirens. Although people hear these sounds more or less on a daily basis, they have never heard it being part of a composition altogether. During this concert all these characteristic city sounds transform into one musical piece and create an adventurous sound axle through the southern part of Amsterdam. A concert which reaches its crescendo when the sounds of the boom cars coincide with the helicopter of the VU-hospital.
The second part of the concert forms the counterpart of the first concert and takes place on the other end of the Zuidas. In the old part of the city, the Beatrix park can be found: relatively rural, with quiet surroundings and a place where the city is less tangible. The concert starts here at the moment when at many offices the working day expires. In this part of the concert the Midi-controlled organs are also part of the set of instruments because of the characteristic link of these street instruments with Amsterdam. These organs are combined in this part of the concert to other old acquaintances of the city: the pigeons. The pigeons conduct dive flights in the Beatrix park above the public. Using a from China descending technique of small flutes, which are placed on each bird, these pigeons produce polyphonic sounds during their flight. In the end they will fly to the sport fields close to the highway and cover the whole Zuidas under a blanket of sounds. The organs play a composition entirely coordinated on the patterns of the sounds of the pigeons flutes.
website: http://www.staalplaat.org/site/
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