a knot is better than knothing
(2025)
performance & concert
beauchamp*geissler
rope, cello, electronics, accordion
Photos © Dieter Kovačič, Eckhard Derschmidt, Lisbeth Kovačič
By imitating the way a tow line is used to dock a ship, hand-woven ropes are attached to the quay around the entrance of the ship and used as a balancing tool by the performers. Putting all of their weight away from each other, and periodically releasing the tension, the performers act as stanchions, blocking and freeing the entrance to the ship.
Upon boarding the ship, passengers are asked whether they would like a play card or a 25cm long piece of rope (13 red, 7 green, 5 blue pieces in total). The play cards depict a word (in German, English and Italian) above the picture of a segment of the ship and can be combined with the cards of other passengers.
As the ship casts off, the concerts starts with a solo accordion tune, accompanied by the acting of a string notation, which encodes the duration of each played note. The performers wander around the ship, bringing the tune to passengers scattered around the vessel, and make their way to the afterdeck, where the rest of the concert takes place. Surrounded by the disappearing scape of water, bridges, bird swarms, brushed by the wind, the music played on the deck blends with the deep sound of the engine, is distorted by the masses of air swirling around the ship. Ropes reappear during the concert as requisites for playing cello: restricting arm movements, replacing the bow, triggering feedback.
Visit 25jahre.klingt.org for further details about the 25 jahre klingt.org fest. Thank you to: stefan geissler for working together on this project, to dieter kovacic for facilitating communication with the ship crew, to alexander babikov for helping us as sound technician during the concert and to the ship vindobona team for their willingness to collaborate during the research phase.