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singing a song for the first time

 

Duration: 2:39
Project: Judaica
Song: Love Song
Practitioner: Nazlıhan Eda Erçin
Director: Agnieszka Mendel
Videography: Ben Spatz
Date: 23 May 2017
Venue: Centre for Psychophysical Performance Research
Source File: J040

COMMENTARY

Agnieszka

This video is one of the excerpts from a long session when Eda was in the space as practitioner for about five hours, directed by me and videographed by Ben. The previous week she was away, travelling to Turkey for a wedding of a friend. She was assigned a task to learn three new songs while being on the road. So she did, listening and memorizing melodies and words in her head. In this very moment of the songwork I asked her to sit on a stool in the middle of the space, concentrate and, whenever she feels ready, sing the Turkish ‘Love Song’ that she has learnt. I was aware of the fact that she had no possibility to try it loud with her voice before as she was constantly surrounded by people – travelers in the airport, in the bus or wedding guests and family. So this was the only task for this stage of work. To sing the song for the first time. The effect was thrilling. The way Eda completed this simple task was extremely powerful and touching.  Soft and delicate in the beginning, unfolded into enormous span of colours and profound emotional content. Very strong presence in the performance. Beautiful. Paradigm of simplicity.

Also, I think that Ben has captured the spirit of this moment with the camera, as he framed it with a close and still picture.

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