Totem Electric

"Farai un vers de dreit nien" is a playful poem written in medieval Occitan by William IX, the Duke of Aquitaine (1071-1126). When I first came across the poem many years ago, I knew I would end up using it somehow and the opportunity to write for Jean-François’ instrument the siren organ was a match made in medieval heaven. Jean-François’ instrument is based on principles a medieval musician would immediately be comfortable with and, of course, the singing voice has a natural affinity with wind instruments. Besides, William of Aquitaine was, like Jean–François, the first of his kind: troubadour and air-compressor equilibrist, respectively.

The piece consists of 3 channels (L-C-R) of pre-recorded, manipulated voice, and a graphic score for the performer, Jean-François Laporte. - G. Baars