Happening
13 hrs

Nocturnes for a society

Friday
19:00 - 08:00
Saturday
19:00 - 08:00

Nocturnes for a society gives the traditional lullaby an update. Forget drifting off to Rock-a-bye baby: here you will be put to work, and it won’t be counting sheep. Instead you will be making sounds together that will then be played in different ways throughout the night. All sorts of musical genres and cultures converge during the event, including Pauline Oliveros’ pioneering music theories and experiments. The result is a shared sound meditation and an innovative musical experience, starting at nightfall and ending the following morning.

Read the practical information about the performance here.

Theme

The concept for Nocturnes for a society grew during the covid lockdowns, when the world became a lot more surreal. It seemed as if our lives were on hold and we had fallen into hibernation. We could only wait for a return to normality – or a new beginning.

During this period, Myriam Van Imschoot and Lucas Van Haesbroeck went in search of historical figures who had protected communities in times of “waiting”. They thus arrived at the archetypes of the shepherd and the tower watchman: keepers of animals or people, of herds or citizens. The tower watchman who surveys the horizon from the top of his tower while the city sleeps, who sounds the alarm in the event of a disaster or invasion, and on a normal morning, acts as a human alarm clock.

For centuries, the shepherd and the tower watchman have been symbols of the “dear Lord” who leads the faithful like a flock of sheep. But they are also traditional professions that were responsible for different musical cultures. The shepherd who plays their lute or flute; the watchman who wakes the people with a brass instrument. The tower watchman would also sing to himself the “tower blues”, alone on his lofty perch. The first musical bands arose from this unlikely music chapel avant la letter, and were engaged for processions and ceremonies. These figures spawned a wealth of songs and musical genres. The source of inspiration for this new work was old songs from this repertoire that were found in Bruges itself.

More information

Myriam Van Imschoot’s (°1969, Ghent) artistic work is informed by her background in performance and dance, writing and dramaturgy, for, among others, Meg Stuart and Benoit Lachambre. Her approach is physical, perceptive and aimed at change. She occupies a unique position in the arts world through her interweaving of philosophies and working methods from different disciplines. She focuses on voice and sound in performance, music theatre, film and installation. Van Imschoot looks for the cracks in our modernist urge for progress. Folklore, local customs and anachronisms are elements she embraces. She frequently collaborates with artists and non-artists who practice vocal and other communication techniques. For example, yodellers, bird imitators, bruitists, zagahreed and Youyou artists, but also classical musicians.

Light designer and scenographer Lucas Van Haesbroeck (°1981, Antwerp) is intrigued by shadows, a fascination that began when he worked for Toneelhuis. Under the direction of Guy Cassiers, whose highly visual theatrical language makes him one of the leading European theatre makers, Van Haesbroeck had the opportunity to gain new experiences. As time went on, there were collaborations with Antwerp companies, and he became involved with numerous music and dance productions. Van Haesbroeck finds visual perception, its functioning, limitations and potentials, a stimulating and challenging subject for further exploration.

Credits

Concept and creation Myriam Van Imschoot & Lucas Van Haesbroeck
Developed by Christophe Albertijn, Tomoko Hojo, Bora Kim, Pierre-Benjamin Nantel, Berno Odo Polzer, Irena Radmanovic, Léa Roger, Idania Spruyt, Lieven Stockx, Iwan Van Vlierberghe en Lendl Barcelos
Production manager Stefaan Deldaele
Management Wim Viaene/Rossinant
Production Newpolyphonies
Coproduction Kunstenfestivaldesarts, KANAL – Centre Pompidou, Reiefestival, C-takt, Kunstencentrum BUDA
Thanks to Kaaitheater, P.A.R.T.S, KASK – School of Arts Gent, Nomadic School of Arts, Orpheus Instituut, Ecole nationale supérieure d’arts de Paris, KWP Kunstenwerkplaats, GMEA Albi, Perpodium
With the support of de the Flemish Government, Tax Shelter of the Belgian Federal Government and the Flemish Community Commission.

Nocturnes for a society was made possible thanks to Tristero, Frederik Rombach (Glass), Daan Gysels (Wood), Ftouma Laayoune / Sew for Life with the assistance of Mirra Markaëva (sheets), La Laine Fleuri/Natagora (Wool), Anisa Rouas and everyone who participated at SESSIONS, an open and creative space for sound lovers to explore ideas and share inspiration.