Shackle (Anne La Berge/Robert Van Heumen)

Event information

Shackle is Anne La Berge on flute and electronics and Robert van Heumen on laptop. Their aim is to explicity and subtly exploit shackling in both concept and material. This extraordinarily inventive duo has a way of making music all their own. At the heart of their duo is a self-designed, cutting-edge digital cueing system which operates as a sometimes visible third member. Both prodding and reactive, the Shackle system suggests musical directions and textures to these two highly gifted performers, opening up a fascinating array of sonic choices for La Berge and Van Heumen to both play with and against. Shackle’s performances explode the line between improvisation without borders and tightly controlled forms that are both playful and daring. __Working with a computerized communication system that proposes various compositional elements to each player, they can then choose whether or not to cooperate with the proposed material. Proposals also involve aspects of restriction, either in soundmaterial, timing, dynamics or other musical parameters. Musical sections are visually presented to the audience by video snippets occuring regularly or irregularly throughout the performance. This is the first event in Brunel@Café Oto, a new series of events organised in collaboration with the Music Department at Brunel University to coincide with a visit by the artists presenting new work at the University.

http://hardhatarea.com/shackle