FULL RIDE

BL!NDMAN [drums] presents in FULL RIDE revolutionary pieces by living composers, amongst them two cool ladies. All prejudices about percussion (boring, limited, cold) will be fiercely challenged. A quartet of drum sets is kicking off with 7 minutes of hi-hats. Julia Wolfe explores the almost symphonic richness of the double cymbal. Gradually the complete drum sets are drawn into a vortex of pumping rhythms. After that, David Lang subtly takes down all deceptive certainties. Four percussionists are playing slightly different parts on instruments made of flowerpots and teacups. Elusive variations in timbre and rhythm overwhelm the audience. In Raphael Cendo’s piece, fluent riddles dissolve into harshly contrasting percussion-sounds. But it is Mayke Nas who really stretches the limits of percussion. Based on a text by Peter Handke, four percussionists are writing self-reproaches in tight rhythm on blackboards and wipe these off again. The result is an impressive example of theatrical percussion.
(text: Bart Bruggeman – with thanks to Handelsbeurs)