The task was not to search for one response but to superimpose, in the same time/space, two languages which have been silenced for different reasons: women composers of the 20th century (because, more than for any other art form, despite what it my seem like, music composition was and remains the most difficult medium for women to break through); and the "landays" of the pashtoun women (because, in the strictest sense, they are "born out of frame", outside the main cultural field reserved for men, and therfore outside the social field.)
"Landays poems" were gathered by the preeminent Afghan poet Sayd Bahodine Majrouh and adapted by André velter; this collection "Le suicide et le chant" speaks for those silent Pashtun women, the anonymous Afghanis who hold their world in their hearts.
The "Landays", which means "the short one", are very short poems, in two lines of nine or thirteen syllabes each, not necessarily in rhyme, but with internal scansion. Like a cry coming from the heart, a lightning flash, a flame, the "landay" captures the attention by its brevity and rhythm.
Texts : Le suicide et le chant by Sayd Bahodine Majrouh
French translation : André Velter. Extracts from
Henrion and ENVEFF reports and documents from WHO and International Amnesty .
Composers : Helen Chadwick, Lindsay Cooper, Nadine Esteve
(CV), Betsy Jolas, Marianne Suner
(CV).
Musicians : Brigitte Cirla
(CV) (mezzo soprano, piano), Isabelle Cirla
(CV) (bass clarinet et sax soprano), Marianne Suner
(CV) (soprano, piano and tôle)
Production : Voix Polyphoniques
Co-production : Festivoce
Sound and mixing : Dominique Clément
Résidence in Pigna, recording at the auditorium from 24 to 29 March 2008
Mixing and editong in Studio Cobalt, 15 rue du loisir 13005 Marseille
MAstering: Michel Geiss
Project supported by ’ADAMI, Voix Polyphoniques is a resident company in La Friche Belle de Mai, granted by Marseille city, and BDR department.
Kindly authorized by Gallimard editions for the use and recording of the landays.
Where?
I. Cirla/M. Suner texts: ENVEFF report
Hold on
H. Chadwick, trad: B. Cirla
Le petit affreux
Nadine Estève Text : S. B. Majrouh (transl: A. Velter)
How many?
I. Cirla/M. Suner; Text : rapport ENVEFF
Stitch goes the needle
Lindsay Cooper
Ma bouche est à toi
I. Cirla/M. Suner text: S. B. Majrouh (transl A. Velter)
Assassination Valse
Lindsay Cooper; Arrgt : Benoit Bergé; Texts: Brigitte Maurin et Brigitte Cirla
(CV)
Thirst
M. Suner Texte : S. B. Majrouh ( trad A. Velter)
Who?
M. Suner Texte : rapport ENVEFF
My beloved
Nadine Esteve
(CV) Texte : S. B. Majrouh (trad A. Velter)
Caprice with 2 voices
Betsy Jolas
Bitter walz
M. Suner Texts : ENVEFF report
Black flames
M. Suner Texte : S. B. Majrouh (trad A. Velter)
