|
Armeno Alberts & Phons Bakx
|
Zwanenzang op de Westerschelde (2003, 24'55")
(Chant du Cygne sur le Westerschelde) |
|
Voice |
Hans Overduin
|
About the composition : 'Zwanenzang op de Westerschelde' (Chant du Cygne sur le Westerschelde) is a radiofonic composition based entirely on a mix of the sounds of 4 ferry-boats (Prinses Christina, Prins Willem Alexander, Prinses Juliana and Prins Johan Friso). For many years, these boats formed the connection between Zeeland and Zeeuws Vlaanderen, regions in the south-west of the Netherlands, separated by the water of the Westerschelde. On the 15th of march 2003 a traffic tunnel took over the connection. One day before, the 4 fairy boats of the PDS (Provinciale Stoomboot Diensten Zeeland) made their last voyage between the two crossing points; Kruiningen - Kerkpolder and Vlissingen - Breskens.
'Zwanenzang op de Westerschelde' (Chant du Cygne sur le Westerschelde) is a "voyage sonore" and a radiofonic homage to the beauty and variety of sounds, that could be heard on these ferry-boats during a crossing. Sounds that bye now are disappeared.
The 3 poetic texts used in the composition (a poem from Ida Gerhard, a text from Phons Bakx and a text based on parts from Herman Hesse's novel Siddhartha), give an abstract textual colour to the entire soundscape.
This piece won the first price (Premier prix, prix SACEM, prix de l'Association des auditeurs de France-Culture) of the Phonurgia Nova Composition Contest 2003