In 1951 Pierre Schaeffer started 'Le Groupe de Recherche de Musique Concrète' (GRM). Schaeffer, working as a composer of electroacoustic music, had several years before this (1948) coined the term 'concrete music', which is using electroacoustic instruments to make an interactive composition. While listening to manipulated sounds the composition takes shape and in reacting to the composition the composer simultaneously alters the sounds which are being used. Cahen, formerly involved with the group, tries to penetrate to the core of the GRM. He does this by using eighteen mini-portraits of composers who had been associated with the GRM, including Schaeffer himself, Parmegiani, Chion, Stockhausen, Donato, Xenakis and Bayle. The camera cautiously explores the faces of the composers to the sounds of part of a composition. Next to the skin, with part of the face an almost abstract image, the intensity becomes practically tangible. Images of mixers, tape recorders and sound installations cut through the images of the faces, finding connections and creating distance. The frequent use of slow motion images of the faces almost literally captures the intensity of composing, reacting and manipulating in the very capillaries. Faces, seemingly expressionless, the ears as interface in an interactive process. A few shots give a passing look at a listening audience, one which is unaware of the unfathomable creative process. Only the beginning sequence gives a pointer to the listener. Don't watch. Cover your eyes with your hands. Be attentive, and experience the result.
– Loek Stolwijk
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Image: Régis Mahon, Editing: Jean-Pierre Pruilh, Sound mixing: Christian Zanesi, Special effects: France 3 Alsace, Production: Serge Com, INA, France 3, GRM
Robert Cahen ° 1945, Valence (France)
Lives and works in Mulhouse (France)
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