Ricercare 2017

8-channel audio Duration: 1’ 02’’ The title Ricercare (Italian: to search out) has a dual significance. Firstly, it attests its structure i.e. it is created in a manner of a ricercare in music – a polyphonic work with contrapuntal imitations. In this work, the voci (voices) are famous politicians: D. Trump, A. Hitler, K. Jong-un, W. Churchill and a recitation of a poem by C.P. Cavafy in Greek. Additionally, having the function of a basso continuo are excerpts from compositions by A. Schoenberg and B. Bartók. Secondly, the title Ricercare is wordplay for listeners in order to search for the meaning of the work by providing them with a translation of the poem in English:

WALLS

Without consideration, without pity, without shame, They built around me great and towering walls. And now I am sitting and despairing here. I think of nothing else: this fate is gnawing at my mind; For I had many things to do out there. Oh! When they were building the walls, how could I not be aware? Yet never did I hear clatter of builders, or a sound. Imperceptibly, they shut me off from the world outside.