Two computers and one electric guitar, played by virtuoso musicians, create a unique sound world that combines
musical clarity with richness of sound and texture.
The electric guitar is a hybrid instrument, partly acoustic, partly electronic. Balancing on the borderline between these
two worlds, it’s an ideal partner in crime for a computer ensemble. The guitar sound can be manipulated and altered
by the computers, which can function as giant effect processors, reaching far beyond the usual effects such as
flanging, chorus, wah wah or distortion. The computers act as ensemble instruments as well, producing a rich
orchestral sound that balances between rough and friendly, energetic and lyrical, harsh and dreamy. This is what
chamber music in the 21st century should really sound like!
Rather than using a standard PA, the two computers have their own set of speakers, as has the electric guitar. This
way, a semi-acoustic set up is realised, giving the ensemble a chamber music-like quality of clarity and intimacy.
POW Ensemble plays the following pieces:
| Alwynne Prichard | Flutterby (2008-2009) |
| Gabriel Prokofiev | Stolen Guitars - Dance Suite for electric guitar and 2 laptops (2008) |
Luc Houtkamp |
Uiterste Staat (2008-2009) for electric guitar and two computers |
| Guy Harries | Safari TV (2009) |
| Chad Langford | Wanderers (2008) |
| Tomohisa Hashimoto | Metaxu (2008) |
Strange Attractors is supported by the Netherlands Fund for Performing Arts+ (NFPK+).
Alwynne Pritchard (UK)
Flutterby (2008)
Flutterby is an mini operatic performance for electric guitar, two computers and three musicians. The guitar plays the
role of the heroine, whilst the computers provide audio 'lighting' effects, stage directions and sound effects, as well as
acting as additional characters in the drama. On occasion the musicians themselves appear as chorus. Flutterby was
created in close collaboration with members of the POW ensemble.
Gabriel Prokofiev (UK 1975)
'Stolen Guitars' (2008/09) - Dance Suite for Electric Guitar and Two Laptops
• Stow Star
• Tutu Too
• Jaroz (Coffee Break Bagatelle)
• Biplets or 'Playing cards'
• Rouser (broken minuet)
• Tortoise Soup
• Rusker
'Stolen Guitars' is a suite of seven short dances in the format of a Baroque Guitar Suite; stylistically however, there
are only momentary references to Baroque music. Instead various moments in the history of the Electric Guitar are
the main stylistic references, so that subtle elements of punk, soukous, heavy rock, new-wave, avante garde, electric
jazz, psychedelia, are evident in the music, but without it ever becoming a slave to any of those styles.
A central feature of each piece is that melodic motifs, both long and short, regular and irregular are introduced by the
Guitar and then 'stolen' (or sampled) by the laptops. The computers then corrupt these motifs with various sound
processing techniques; from simple bit-rate degrading through to more complex granular reshaping. Fortunately this
musical theft is done quite amicably and the guitar is more than happy to play along.
Luc Houtkamp (NL 1953)
Uiterste Staat (2008/09) for electric guitar and two computers (17')
• Part 1 La Danse Estropiée
• Part 2 Borderlines
• Part 3 Sonnerie Mechanique
Uiterste Staat (Utmost State) is characterised by extremes. Extremes of musical language follow each other in a rapid
exchange, from meticulously notated virtuosity to guided improvisation, from modulation-free tonality to crackling
electronic sound. All of this is composed in a form, which, like the virtuosic solo concerti of the 18th century, consists
of three movements. The 'orchestra' accompanying the guitar in this case comprises two computers, which produce
their own digital sounds as well as using live sampling techniques. The last movement includes a cadenza section in
which the guitar soloist can show his/her improvisational capabilities.
Uiterste Staat is a composition that demonstrates my belief that musical style is secondary in importance and they’re
to serve the expressive quality of the music itself. What interests me most of all is the way in which the musicians play
together, and how this can be directed by means of composition and the use of live electronics.
This piece was composed with support of NFPK+.
Guy Harries (UK/ISR 1974)
SAFARI TV (2009)
A safari for the ear. Animals turned electronic or electronics turned animal by way of guitar, wires, amps. An
environment where interaction could go anywhere. We think we know what these creatures can do, but anything could
happen at any point. Sit back, you are protected in the seat of the jeep with the windows closed. No need to engage.
We won't bite. Or will we?
This piece was composed with the generous support of NFPK+.
Chad Langford (USA 1973)
Wanderers (2008)
Wanderers is a re-working of Cairns, an earlier piece that I wrote for the POW Ensemble. Using the same material
from Cairns for the electric guitar, I have re-defined the roles of the two laptop performers, who provide commentary
on the six short pieces played by the guitar. Most simply, Wanderers tells a story of two people traveling through an
unfamiliar landscape, giving us a glimpse of their internal and external dialogues as they move towards an uncertain
future.
Tomohisa Hashimoto (Jap)
Metaxu (2008)
Guy Harries – computer, electronics
Composer/performer born in Israel (1974), based in London and Amsterdam. He studied sonology and composition at
the Royal Conservatory in the Hague. His work consists mostly of the interactive combination of live electronics and
acoustic instruments, as well as the use of multimedia. His latest large-scale production was Jasser - a multimedia
chamber opera, which toured throughout Holland in many theaters.
At the moment he is studying for a PhD in electro-acoustic composition at City University in London, focusing on the
ritual elements of live electro-acoustic performance. He is also a singer-songwriter, practising electronic troubadourism
with his laptop and voice, and is a singer and flautist with his electro-rock-cabaret band iNiT.
Luc Houtkamp – computer, electronics
Luc Houtkamp (1953) is a composer/performer who bridges the gap between the worlds of jazz-derived free
improvisation and computer-based composition and performance. Since the mid-eighties he has been designing his
own interactive music software, resulting in pieces performed by himself and in collaborations with musicians and
ensembles as George Lewis, Le Quan Ninh, The Netherlands Vocaal Laboratorium, Wiek Hijmans and LOOS Ensemble.
By establishing his own computer group POW Ensemble in 2001, Houtkamp has created a new platform for exploring
and expanding the musical potentials of the computer.
Wiek Hijmans – electric guitar
Wiek Hijmans (1967) has played the electric guitar since the age of eleven. His interest in both contemporary classical
as well as in popular music gave him a task for life: integrating the electric guitar in the classical tradition, thus adding
a new world of sounds to that tradition. Influences from jazz, rock and an attitude stemming from extensive
experience as an improviser make Hijmans both as a performer and as a composer a typical exponent from the
current state of music.
Wiek Hijmans plays as a soloist and in numerous project and ensembles, gives masterclasses, is co-artistic director of
New York-Amsterdam Arts Collective TONK, and co-directs the OUTPUT Festival, the first international festival
dedicated to the electric guitar in classical music.
POW Ensemble
The POW Ensemble, founded in 2001 by Dutch composer/ saxophonist Luc Houtkamp, is a chamber ensemble of the
21st century, using live electronics and computers as musical instruments.
Electronic or computer music is not another style in itself, but has the potency to move between different styles and
musical traditions, and cross many boundaries. The musicians use improvisation, live processing, interacting with
electronic and acoustic instruments such as cello and saxophone. By connecting computers to interactive networks,
frameworks are created in which not only the musicians but also their instruments interact with each other.
This approach has brought POW Ensemble international recognition in the world of live electronic music.
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