Letter Piece Company

A to Zzz is an hour-long work for six performers featuring physical action, music, text and light design

FULL EVENT DETAILS HERE

The title announces the concept: A to Zzz moves through the alphabet, with each letter representing something. That something might be a person (F = Fred Flinstone), a topic (S = samba) or a principle (V = variation). The passage through the alphabet provides a scaffold, a solid reference point, for an otherwise unpredictable journey full of constant surprise, imagination, digressions and ruptures!
The work draws on a broad and unexpected range of everyday, popular and art culture: the movement of ballet, break dance and body language; the music/sound of abstract textures, field recordings and 80s pop; and the lighting of the rock concert, motorway, and bedside lamp.

The work is co-produced by Vooruit, Concertgebouw Brugge and we are also supported by the Brussels based artslab Pianofabriek.

Further performances scheduled for:
Concertgebouw Brugge
STUK (Leuven) as part of the 2012 Transit festival

Performances of Letter Piece duos

(sometimes coupled with works by Tom Johnson)

16 March 2012

CC Stroming, Berlare, Belgium

2 February 2012
CC De Werft, Geel, Belgium

11 January 2012
CC De Westrand, Dilbeek, Belgium

22 October
Novecanto and Katrijn Friant,
Parnassus, Oude Houtlei 124, 9000 Gent, Belgium

28 August 2011
Bronks, Brussels, Belgium
Opening of the Circuit X and Soiree X

12 September 2010
@ Living Room Music,
Klara festival, Brussels
(Joris Rossie's living room)

3 February 2010
@ Korte Metten, Vooruit, Gent

19 November 2009
@ Queen's University, Belfast

3 October 2009
@ BrxlBravo, Brussels
(also featuring David Helbich)

17 March 2009
@ Multiplier, Kings Place, London

27 September 2008
@ Festival Made, Gent

4 March 2008
Letter Pieces
@ Rational Rec, London

KIDS WORKSHOPS

Shila and Tomma have led workshops in Belgium for children of all ages using Letter Piece concepts. The children create their own works exploring relationships between physical actions and sound. Some workshops are one hour sessions and they have also led three day courses with a performance for the parents at the end!

If you are interested interested in booking Shila and Tomma, contact Tomma at:
tomma@apsara.be
Workshops
De Vlieger, Gent
24 March to 7 April 2011

De Vlieger, Gent
17 May 2011

Dworp, Belgium
organisation: Matrix
4 to 6 June 2011

Blokfluitdagen Mechelen

19 August 2011

KidsOdGand at Gent Festival
Bijloke, Gent
Workshop for 8-10 year olds, with public showing.
3 October 2010

Matrix Centrum voor nieuwe muziek
Leuven, Belgium
12-14 April 2010

About the individuals

Shila Anaraki has worked as a dancer with choreographers in Belgium, Germany and Holland with companies such as Wanda GolonkaSchauspielfrankfurt, Vivienne Newport Company and Les Ballets C de la B. In recent years, an important part of her work has been dedicated to working with composers (such as George Aperghis and Alvin Curran) as a collaborator, dancer and assistant.

Mark Knoop is a pianist and conductor living in London. He performs with such groups as Plus Minus, Ensemble Expose, ELISION, 175 East, musicFabrik, WDR Rundfunkchor Koln, Ensemble Offspring and Ensemble Laboratorium. Mark has worked with composers such as Newton Armstrong, Richard Barrett, Chris Dench, James Dillon, Michael Finnissy, Helmut Lachenmann and Liza Lim, Erik Ulman and David Young.

Tom Pauwels plays classical and electric guitar solo and within the context of ensembles such as Ictus, Plus-Minus and Elastic 3. He is the guitarist and artistic adviser of the Ictus Ensemble and teaches at the Conservatory of Ghent.

Matthew Shlomowitz is a London based composer of concert music and performance pieces. He was written works for groups such asamisimasa, Champ d'Action, ELISION, EXAUDI, Ives Ensemble, Ricciotti Ensembe and Quatuor Diotima.

Tomma Wessel is a German recorder player living in Belgium. She performs with Ex Tempore, Musica Antiqua Köln, Champ d’Action, Collegium Instrumentale Brugensis, Il Novecento, Het Spectra Ensemble, Het Vlaams Symfonieorkest en Das Urensemble and is a member of the recorder group Aspara.

Letter Piece Company

LPC premiers A to Zzz at Vooruit on Feb 16 and 17!

Last at Chisenhale and Soundwaves