Silence: John Cage meets 2020
Operatic installation of soundscape and film.
Creator: Susannah Self
Narrator: Michael Christie
In his book Walden Henry Thoreau removes himself from life’s distractions and lives in a cabin by a pond. During this current time of self-isolation I have been making early morning bike rides to the secret springs in Little Walsingham in North Norfolk. Clearly these symbolise the very source of life. This led me to reflect how my research as a composer has been deeply influenced by working with John Cage. I imagine he would love the multiple burbling springs whose hopefulness is contrasted by a surrounding desolate wood. At times the peace is peppered with guns going off. In the installation a stream is loud then silent but with movement on the film. Dead leaves left on a hedge from last autumn fibrillate to show the fragility of life. A tea pot is filled and accompanied by gongs that suggest a Zen tea ceremony. Cage made heavily brewed black tea to replace booze and drugs. It was unbearably strong but the sip he offered me facilitated a transubstantiation to his ever-living presence. Cage’s words speak directly to us in a section from his Lecture on Something in his book Silence while the film explores the pond. This paves the way for an intense operatic ceremony. In the more verdant woods of Little Walsingham Abbey pulsing frame drums and synthesiser suggest a looming catastrophe. From the woodland Greta Thunberg delivers her emotional speech. She emerges from the earth like Erda in Wagner’s Ring. Both warn of destruction. Greta’s frank vocal delivery is deeply operatic. The memory of my 15-year-old self directly identifies with her depth of feeling. To my delight and amazement Greta is heard internationally. The planet can still be saved if we plant millions of trees and our current pandemic is directly linked to the insults we have meted out. After Greta’s speech home-made instruments play: a primitive violin, two out-of-tune ukuleles which are reminiscent of the tintinnabulation of cathedral bells. These instruments are inspired by Cage’s prepared piano and Harry Partch’s invented instruments. Forced to self-isolate we can only make music with what we have left at home. The installation ends with man-made synthesised sounds set against silent dead leaves. The future choice is stark.
Here is a link to the installation:
Silence: John Cage meets 2020 is the first in a series of operatic installations that I am creating to be viewed online.
