Im Keller
for two simultaneous* vocal seeds and live electronics (2016)
*simultaneous works are compositions consisting of autonomous discourses, the components of which can be performed together and as stand-alone works. Stand-alone works, referred to as seeds, are listed below.
commissioned by Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart
premiered by Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart at the Mikromusik Festival, 2016
Seed I:
Johanna Zimmer, soprano
Turkije van der Poel, mezzo-soprano
Seed II:
Daniel Gloger, countertenor
Martin Nagy, tenor
Guillermo Anzorena, baritone
Andreas Fischer, bass
live processing by Alexis Baskind and Max Bruckert (GRAME)
transaural and binaural mixes by Alexis Baskind
score published by Edition Gravis
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Composed for two simultaneous vocal groups and live electronics, Im Keller (In the Cellar) addresses notions of dislocation and isolation through auditory experiences of enclosure. In this work the performance space is virtually divided in two, with each half simultaneously assigned to virtual spaces of unique properties that are in constant contact with each other as well as the physical space.
Im Keller engages with enclosure not through mere room simulations or suggested boundaries, but through the ways in which virtual spaces are made visible by movement. In this work, movement is not limited to moving a sound source from one fixed point to another in a space, but is approached as coeval happenings within perceived spaces, the properties of which are mediated, colored, and tuned by the corporeal responses of the performers.
With this approach to movement, the audience is accordingly invited to sit in one of the two virtualized spaces, which are arranged to position the audience to face each other from within each simultaneously constructed virtualized space. The piece is performed twice with a short pause in between, during which the audience is invited to change spaces.
Im Keller was premiered by Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart at St. Elizabeth-Kirche in Berlin. In order to offer a fine-tuned realization, acoustic measurements (i.e., arrival points of specular reflections, early decay-time, definition, clarity, etc.) of the St. Elisabeth-Kirche were modeled. For future performances, these measurements are to be used for reference. The two simultaneous vocal groups, referred to as seeds, can be performed as stand-alone discourses.
Im Keller is dedicated to Carl Rosman who have been reminding me that it is crucial to keep writing even the conditions we are in imposing the otherwise. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Alexis Baskind and Max Bruckert. Without their commitment and solidarity, none of these would have been possible. I wholeheartedly thank them all.
©Turgut Erçetin 2010-2025 (All rights reserved).
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This work enages with two simultaneous virtual spaces, referred to as Space A and Space B. Below are the binaural recordings, displaying recordings from both perspectives:
Space A:
Audio (SoundCloud)Space B:
Audio (SoundCloud)This work is also featured on Turgut Erçetin's first portrait CD, Panopticon Specularities (RZ 1030, 2019).
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Erçetin, Turgut. “Über Raum und Multidimensionalität” (November 2019) MusikTexte, No. 163.
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"You want kilims, but I do films," by Simone Heilgendorff and Anke Hervol (Journal der Künste, No. 2, 2017).
"Akustische Perspektiven gestalten: Der türkische Komponist Turgut Erçetin," by Christine Anderson (Deutschlandradio Kultur, 2017)
