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PARADISE FROM VOCALBOX
Date: 12 September, 2002
A project of Fabrica Musica and Koichi Makigami in collaboration with the Institute of Living Voice in Antwerp.
Koichi Makigami’s “voice box” is a treasure chest filled with sensations and emotions that cannot be described with words but are vividly expressed using the voice.
In a seamless series of musical and visual moments that are united by and alternated to technological surprises of sounds and images, voices and instruments move in a surprising labyrinth of musical languages and attitudes, with irony and with an ever present sense of fun,
More to the point, no words come out of Makigami’s box; just sounds, noises, rhythms, gestures, sometimes seemingly abstract, but so simple, aimed at and tightly tied to humanity and the emotiveness of the people who created them, to be seen as a common vocabulary, over and above cultural differences and—of course – of language.
PARADISE FROM VOCALBOX:
THE SHAMAN AND THE JELLYFISH
By Letizia Renzini
During the last session of the Institute Of Living Voice, the organization that David Moss runs together with the Belgian company Transparant, in addition to the usual workshop and master class, participants were given the opportunity to attend an unusual and interesting round table in the presence of some of the most important improvisers and vocal researchers in the world. The stage was given over to the participants of the seminar (three of which have won bursaries to attend Fabrica). Moss himself participated in the debate as well as Meredith Monk, Phil Minton and Makigami Koichi. The latter recounted his first experience in the creative field as a seventeen-year-old, with a company called “Theatre of the Subconscious”. What did it deal with? With his usual cryptic calmness, Makigami explained that the basic idea was to make the invisible visible, express a sign that had not been expressed before: a process that is almost automatic in daily spiritual life and a necessary exercise for artistic truth.
The performer-improviser is in fact a peculiar type of artist: the trance state in which they operate during an exhibition is an art similar to ritual, almost a magic art that opens a niche of “other” in the momentum. Not too distant from the shaman, they are creators of instant art, an overexposed conscience capable of a synthesis in real time between emotional fluxes, expressions, different interpretations for different visions. An important responsibility, effective only if managed in complete honesty as it is a curious mix of passive activity, a place of experimentation of language and artistic expression of revolutionary potential.
Amongst improvisers the vocalist is still a separate species because the voice simply is and it exists even before language. It is the first expression of the self in the world. Those who search using this primary instrument battle with the necessity of a perceptible physical honesty. If the voice is the primal extension of the self, the extension of ourselves in the environment, a vehicle, flux of our beings, then there are very few possible compromises: only by experimenting with the previous state, that without language, is it possible to find nourishment only in truth.
I imagine that within the mystical practice of throat singing (the throat song characteristic of Tuva and used by Makigami in his research), in the use of harmonic singing, in the extravagant improvisations that draw indifferently from the Manga or from the cinema of Hong Kong, from Cage or from the Peking opera, from punk or from Belcanto, there is for Makigami the constant search for the unexpressed sign, of the sound still not made that because it is unspoken is universal.
I imagine that within the large spiritual importance of the small things there are many lessons that our society must still learn, and I underline how important it is that Fabrica—the communications research center of the Benetton group hosting young artists from around the world—has given this creative opportunity to an artist who is spiritually universal like Makigami Koichi.
I imagine that in the conception of a multidisciplinary exhibition, compounded, yet still “instant” the honesty of the shaman artist is palpable and recognizable.
I am certain that the voice and vision of this extraordinary artist will give us a slice of the jellyfish’s paradise, momentum of the accomplishment of the human race, subversive and passionate choir against every flattening of human emotion.
PARADISE FROM VOCALBOX
to sing a song that is from no country
and at times to lead the voice to the very brink of danger
to play a music that is not too easily reassuring
no matter
if the melodies are ragged
if the rhythms go here and there
if the harmonies are all over the place
to bring forth a song that is full of the joy of living
as an existence which brings surprise
declare whilst hesitating
care whilst destroying
transform whilst deciding
as well as
resuscitate the past and hint the future
merge these oddities
and from the small vocalbox let a vast paradise be born
Makigami Koichi
KOICHI MAKIGAMI
Vocalist, improviser, songwriter, actor, director, producer. Makigami Koichi is leader/vocalist/cornet player for rock band HIKASHU, known for his virtuosi vocal range and expression as well as his unique use of elements of theatre, performance, and
entertainment, all of which make this
Japanese band so widely acclaimed.
He is also active as a voice improvisation artist and solo performer. In 1992 Makigami released a solo album of old re-worked, reinterpreted popular Japanese songs.
Makigami has worked and collaborated with a great many artists and musicians including Takahashi Yuji, John Zorn, Ikue Mori, Otomo Yoshihide, David Moss, Lauren Newton, Anthony Coleman,Umezu Kazutoki, Carl Stone, Jon Rose, Guy Klucevsek, and Derek Bailey in a wide variety of areas and styles. Ongoing projects include his aforementioned unique avant-pop based on old popular Japanese music, performance using interactive computer technology, voice improvisation, and various projects as organizer and producer.
PHIL MINTON
Phil Minton’s career began in the 60’s when he moved from London to Torquay and started to collaborate with the Mike Westbrook Orchestra, where he made an impression with his virtuosi trumpet playing.
Phil Minton later abandoned brass instruments to dedicate himself to vocals and for the rest of the 60’s and the beginning of the 70’s he alternated` as a singer between various bands and orchestras.
His solo performances are renowned; he is also well known for his ability to improvise. The performances of Phil Minton often boast the presence of famous artists with which he creates unusual exhibitions in duos or trios. His co-performers include Peter Brotzmann, Michel Waisvisz, Roger Turner, John Butcher, Radu Malfati, Phil Wachsman and he also toured with Veryan Weston.
In 1987 he was awarded the prize for best male singer in Europe by Jazz Forum Magazine receiving the maximum votes from readers. He founded the group VOICE together with Maggie Nichols and Julie Tippets. VOICE has experimented with many theatre groups in the United Kingdom.
Paradise from Vocalbox was presented in September, 12, 2002 in Innsbruck within the Klangspuren Festival, and in September, 13, 2002 in Bressanone inside the Transart Festival.
CREDITS:
Koichi Makigami – concept and musical director, voice
Phil Minton – special guest, voice
Fabrica Musica
Andrea Molino – artistic director
Gregory Frateur – voice
Joy Frempong – voice
Aurélie Lierman – voice
Carla Cisno – bassoon
Chieko Mori – koto
Vincenzo Sparacio – percussion
Ramon Schneider – audio design
Giorgio Collodet – audio technical coordinator
Video
Koichi Makigami, Andrea Molino, Alessandro Favaron – concept and selection
Alessandro Favaron – editing and technical coordinator
Andy Huntington e Francesco Meneghini – video interactive design
Stage Design
Jaime Hayon, Theresa Wong
Graphic Design
Omar Vulpinari
Gints Apsits
Production
Antonio Convertini – production manager
Lisa Martelli – production assistant
Press office Fabrica
Elisabetta Prando
Klangspuren Festival
Peter Paul Kainrath, Thomas Larcher – artistic directors
Marie-Luise Mayr – general director
Edith Barta – press office
Transart Festival
Eduard Demetz – president
Peter Paul Kainrath – artistic director
Artlink – press office
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