Nosferatu – a Symphony of Horror
[silent film, Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau, Germany 1922]
live music: Histoplasmose [2004/05/10/11] by IzP

 

90'

 

(first performed: feb 02nd 2005, Essen / Germany)

 

FILM:

Murnau’s interpretation of Dracula portrays paths into the realm of the phantoms: bridges and gateways are crossed, and in so doing one traverses boundaries beyond which vampire powers can be accessed. Over the course of time, this realm keeps unfurling until it occupies the entire cinematic space. Perhaps the vampire can be expelled, but the power that propels him cannot, for it is the power of the cinema itself. 

 

[text: Peter Ellenbruch / Scopium]

 

MUSIC:

Histoplasmosis — a fungus that flourishes in bat droppings — was the cause of death of the archaeologist who opened the tomb of Tutankhamun in 1922. As a central motive of vampire mythology, the bat carries the spores of hiptoplasomosis into the film music, so that they infest the public from within.Sonic journey for amplified accordion, struck electric bass, live electronics, small gong, (screaming) voices, male/female choir, prerecorded sound, amplified roof slats, singing wine glasses, toy glockenspiel, and loop sampler.

 

[translated by Eric Flesher / USA] 

 

"[…] Magic was emphasized through bleeping space music. War planes and warfare sound referred to plague alarm - the very link to recent objects revived and condensed this film experience, stressed surprising details and revealed fine nuances. The traditional whimpering of the violins […] and the horror plunking, however, blocked, concealed and blunted the old image, at least as it appears today. A new sound track always involves a rebirth of the actual film."

 

Auli Särkiö relating to our Finland 2011 tour with NOSFERATU/HISTOPLASMOSE

 

[translated by Gordon Stephan]

 

 

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