Urban Cuts
Fortner Anderson, Ned Bouhalassa
Programme notes
This is a work where I explore urban spaces in Montreal, Las Vegas, and Berlin — 3 very different cities, with truly unique soundscapes. I gathered many recordings of spoken phrases, and used them as natural reference points for the listener. Cars are everywhere in these cities
While I have incorporated sampled drums and loops in my electroacoustic music for many years, with this piece I wanted to collaborate with two talented musicians from Montréal. Christian Olsen’s drumming is both explosive and subtle, while Delphine Measroch, who is also a composer, transforms the sound of her cello into a metro turnstile, a cricket, a hovercraft.
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Urban Cuts was realized in 2005 at the composer’s studio and premiered [fixed-media original version] on November 19, 2005 in Berlin (Germany). An initial 15-minute version entitled Espaces urbains 1
Premiere
- November 19, 2005, Premiere of the original fixed medium version
: Concert, Akademie der Künste — Hanseatenweg, Berlin (Germany) - December 10, 2005, Premiere of the mixed version
: Delphine Measroch, cello; Christian Olsen, drum • Akousma (2): Rhapsodie urbaine, Espace Go, Montréal (Québec)
About this sound recording
This recording was realized on February 26 & 28, 2007 at Studio Sygma in Montréal by Alain Girard and mixed at the composer’s studio.
- Writer(s): Fortner Anderson
- Composer(s): Ned Bouhalassa
- Year of composition: 2005
- Duration: 34:06
- Instrumentation: cello, drum kit and 5.1-channel fixed medium
- Publisher(s): Yul média
- Commission: Sabine Breitsameter, Akademie der Künste (Berlin, Germany), with support from the CALQ and from Andreas Hagelüken of RBB/Klanggalerie
- ISRC: CAD500811401
Movements
Montréal 1
My city. This is a trip through quintessential Montréal, visiting a soundscape that envelopes, shakes and rocks me. It mixes the hot tam-tam jams (drumming) on the Mountain with student protests, captures the big Friday night on Crescent street, spies on the outdoor lunchers at Place Ville-Marie
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- Movement of: Urban Cuts
Montréal 2
- Movement of: Urban Cuts
Las Vegas
The greatest American mirage, Las Vegas is evoked by Fortner Anderson (recorded voice), through the words of his poem, Vegas. He revisits the dry hills and desert nearby, the chimeric streets, the trompe-l’œil architecture. He spins an internal tale involving melancholic feelings and fresh questions. I weave field recordings of desert walks and cacophonous casinos.
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- Movement of: Urban Cuts
Berlin 1
German composer and radio-producer Michael Rüsenberg was kind enough to record a large number of Berlin ambiences
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- Movement of: Urban Cuts
Berlin 2
- Movement of: Urban Cuts
