23 Feb, 2008
Ecosonic Ensemble explored new ways of making music using both traditional and electroacoustic sources, dealing with the dynamic between sound, movement and emotion. Each performer had a partner playing an identical instrument – the acoustic instruments were mirrored by an electroacoustic ‘ouija board’. Played through hand movements, it draws forth sounds in response to group gestures, creating a sonic texture, echoing other times and places. Ecosonic features Stephen Preston on baroque flute, a leading musician in developments of the recovery and performance of early music; Eva Caballero, from Barcelona, on baroque flute; Thomas Gardner, a composer, improviser and cellist; Laura Reid on cello, who performs across many genres of music, and has composed for London Sinfonietta and the BBC; Peter Coyte, composer, on ‘ouija board’, who produces works for installation, performance, film and TV.
“The performers move through the audience and performance area – any open space – circling, separating and converging, in a dialogue of challenge and counter-challenge, seduction and threat – immediate, visceral and amazing.” Independent on Sunday