Peter Kerkelov "phos-phorus" - Vocal Ensemble Alter Ratio

Peter Kerkelov "phos-phorus" for 12 voices and electronics
Vocal Ensemble Alter Ratio, cond. Olga Prykhodko
Live preformance during KLANGWERKSTATT BERLIN - FESTIVAL FUER NEUE MUSIK, 17.11.2023
peterkerkelov....
alter-ratio.co...
I believe that even when no longer on earth human life emits light on us, the living. Just like phosphorus which glows when placed in the darkness. The dead, through their good deeds and sorrow, through their mistakes and decisions, illuminate for us a path on which we walk
towards our own light. Only so we could take the torch over one day.
It is hard to put these thoughts in words, but sometimes one doesn’t need to. A word is so much more than its supposed meaning. I believe that each word is a sound of all that surround us, an image of associations, a collection of meanings, a painting of many paintings.
Therefore, the lyrics in this piece are made out of flying phrases from different unrelated poems or free-floating words which are combined in a way that tries to describe the sensation of the dim and warm light gifted by the ones that are gone. The text is constructed in an attempt to
show that no matter of your nationality and culture these threads connect us whether living or
dead.
This piece goes to all Ukrainian souls who although tragically lost in these times of
darkness remain our bearers of light.
Lyrics:
vital light
unter der Schultern durchsichtigem Sturz
por si no lo saben, de eso está hecha la vida
ni tiniebla ni caos
schon ist mein Blick am Hügel, dem besonnten
libre de la memoria y de la esperanza
the word within a word
wie ein Stern
voller Erscheinung, aus der Ferne an-
por ese día que no llega nunca
wie ein Kandelaber in dem sein Schauen, nur zurückgeschraubt
secretamente, entre la sombra y el alma
with caressing hands
ni el espacio ni el tiempo
weave the wind. I have no ghosts
encendida por dentro
zu jener Mitte, die die Zeugung trug
la mala luz, el sol,
put out my eyes and I can see you still
in a wilderness of mirrors
“Faith” is a fine invention
in a wilderness of mirrors
I mount the steps and ring the bell
these tears are shaken from the wrath-bearing tree
escondida, la luz de aquellas flores
so werd ich dich auf meinem Blute tragen
and sings the tune without the words -
ilimitado, abstracto, casi futuro
The project is funded by:
• Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung
• Goethe-Institut
• GVL - Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten mbH
• Ukrainian Institute
and supported by:
• Klangwerkstatt Berlin - Festival für Neue Musik
• Südwestrundfunk (SWR)
• Donemus Publishing