Variable Geometry Orchestra - Stills (2007)

"The music produced by the Variable Geometry Orchestra (VGO) results from the juxtaposition of acoustic and electronic sound matter that constantly searches for detail and meaning. Its sounds contain subliminal as well as psycho-acoustic characteristics and include the possibility of complete silence. (...) The conduction is operated by balancing the sound masses that travel in the acoustic space, dictating the construction of the real-time composition, and thus revealing the organized juxtaposition of specific instruments as mobile sound groups.

This leaves space for the musicians to regain their natural rhythm and breathing, as well as their sense of random pulsation. It also allows them to listen to all the sound events that are happening at any given moment and thus to act accordingly. On the contrary, they can simply listen to what another musician has just begun. The musical space is thus filled only with the intrinsically essential elements.

Another of the outstanding aspects of the orchestra is how open it is to new participants. That is one reason why it is called 'variable'. The influx of new creative power is tempered only with a truly democratic spirit where hierarchy is reduced to a bare minimum, also permitting a very large number of combinations and permutations of smaller ensembles to be arranged on-the-spur-of-the-moment.Last but not least, the orchestra encompasses three generations of musicians who have set age aside to pursue a common contemporary language." Ernesto Rodrigues, CD Liner notes

E. Rodrigues - Conduct., Violin, Viola (all) João Castro Pinto - Computer (1,2,3,5) Adriana Sá - Digital Synth (1,2,3,4) Eduardo Chagas - Trombone (1,2,3,4) Olympia Boule - Voice (1,5) Etsuko Kimura - Organ (3) J. Silva - Cracklebox, Field Recs. (3) P. Bastiaan - ASax, Melodica, Ds (1,2,3) Fala Mariam - Alto Trombone (1, 5) A. Moimême - TenSax, El. Guitar (1,3,4,5) Ivan Fontes - Didgeridoo (2,3) Eduardo Lalá - Trombone (2) Silvia Freitas - Violin (3) Katia Santandreu - Viola (3) G. Rodrigues - Cello (1,2,3,4,5) J. Lampreia - Flute, Soprano Sax (1,3,4) Lizuarte Borges - Alto Sax (3) Nuno Moita - Sampler, Turntables (1,3,5) Plan - Turntables (1) Hernâni Faustino - Double Bass (1,2,3,4,5) A. C. Neto - Alto & Tenor Sax (2,4,5) João Oliveira - Drums (1,4,5) R. Ausar-Sahu - Double Bass (1)

Sei Miguel - Pocket Trumpet (1,4,5) Nuno Torres - Alto Sax (1,2,3,4) Rafael Toral - Modified Amp. (1,4) Nuno Rebelo - Amplified Objects A. Gonçalves - Analog Modular Synth (3) J. Krieger - Trumpet, Frech Horn (2,3,5) G. Gonçalves - Tuba, Euphonium (1,2) Marcelo Maggi - Trumpet (1, 3) M. Bernardo - Clarinet (1, 2, 3, 4) B. Parrinha-Cls., ASax, Harmonica (1,2,3) J-M Charmier-Trumpet, Euphonium(2) M. Pereira - Contrabass (3) J. Viegas - Bass Clarinet (1,3) Pedro Portugal -Trumpet (1,2) R. Pinheiro - Piano (3) Travassos-CircuitBending,Tapes (all) A. Pereira - Accordion (1,2,3,4,5) P. Castello-Lopes - Percussion (1,3,5) Jorge Oliveira - African Percussion (3) A. Chaparreiro - Electric Guitar (1,2,3,5) C. Burago - Cowbell (1, 4, 5) M. Trinité - Cymbals, Objects (2,3,4) Carlos Santos - Computer (1,2,3,4,5)

disc 1
1. The Morning Walk After The "O" Of The Clock
disc 2
2. Just As You Were Able To Talk About Nothing
3. Suddenly The Dream Became A Promise Of White
disc 3
4. Loosing The Place Where Someone Watched Over Me
5. We Almost Turned Around And Headed Home
- all@320 -