for music theatre
VOID/SUNYATA was composed in 2006-2007 in commission of Muziektheater Transparant. Wim Henderickx also conducted this production.
The work for 5 singers, instrumental ensemble & electronics was performed on several international stages (in Zürich, Antwerp, Stavanger, Zwolle, Bruges and Rotterdam) between 2007 and 2009.
The score is the 4th part in Wim Henderickx’s TANTRIC CYCLE, a series of compositions with Eastern music & philosophy as a source of inspiration.
The structural thread for this work is the Buddhist Shri Yantra, an abstract geometrical figure, serving as a guide for meditation and development of consciousness.
Wim Henderickx was fascinated by the concept of emptiness (sunyata) after trips to the Far East.
There is no story and the words have no semantical meaning. This was also so in NADA BRAHMA (3rd part in the TANTRIC CYCLE) and in DISAPPEARING IN LIGHT (5th part in the cycle).
The instruments (violin, cello, flute, clarinet and trombone) are each linked to a specific voice.
For the development of this score Wim Henderickx collaborated intensely with his musical assistent Diederik Glorieux and with Jorrit Tamminga (live electronics).
The score consists of the following parts :
- PROLOGUE
1. BINDU
2. FEMALE TRIANGLE
3. AKASHA
4. MALE TRIANGLE
5. AIR
6. CIRCLE
7. FIRE
8. SQUARE
9. WATER
10. LOTUS
11. EARTH
12. FINAL BINDU
- EPILOGUE
TRAILER (by Peter Quasters)
Image of the Shri Yantra,
the inspirating figure for SUNYATA
LISTEN 2 (Fragment of the solo EARTH : Lien Haegeman, mezzo and Shirly Laub, violin)
Image by Hans and Gert Op de Beeck
for the production VOID
for 5 singers, instrumental ensemble and electronics (+/- 75')
Commissioned by Music Theatre Transparant
Avant-première August 30, 2007 during the Zürcher Theater Spektakel, Zürich
Première October 19, 2007 deSingel, Antwerp (music@venture Festival)
Music Theatre Transparant
Composition and cond. : Wim Henderickx
Musical assistent: Diederik Glorieux
Live electronics: Jorrit Tamminga
Sound recording: Lieven Muësen
Instrumental ensemble: Oxalys
Direction: Wouter Van Looy
Visual concept: Hans Op de Beeck
Video: Gert Op de Beeck
Choreography: Vivian Cruz
Phil Minton, voice artist
Elise Caluwaerts, soprano
Lien Haegeman, mezzo
Olivier Berten, baritone
Hans Gröning, baritone
