Accretion - Work for 3 Grand Pianos and A Pianist

Published:

July 28, 2019

Accretion is a collaboration between pianist Magda Mayas and choreographer Toby Kassell. This project creates different spatial and aural perspectives, where sound and the memory of sound and gesture gain a spatial and physical presence. Three pianos are placed in different positions in the performance space, with the audience sitting in between and around the instruments.

The pianist plays inside the instruments with various objects and preparations, moving between the pianos to perform the resonance of all three sounding bodies simultaneously. Small vibrating engines and Ebows are placed inside the pianos operated from elsewhere in the space through remote controls. The combination of these resonating materials form a sonic and physical connection between the pianos acoustically and physically transforming the performance space. Toby Kassell is a choreographer and dancer working extensively with sound and producing original pieces, currently employed at the Göteborg Opera.

Idea & Concept: Magda Mayas and Toby Kassell
Performance & Music: Magda Mayas
Video & Light: Katxerê Medina
Audio post production: Tony Buck

Gothenburg University, Högskolan för scen och musik, 2018.

Contributed By

Magda Mayas

Berlin-based pianist and improvisor. Currently in the final year of pursing a practice-based PhD at the University of Gothenburg, focusing on the real-time orchestration of timbre with a spatial, perceptual and physical approach. Current projects include "Spill" - a duo with drummer Tony Buck, "Great Waitress" - a trio with Monika Brooks (acc) and Laura Altman (cl) and another duo with Christine Abdelnour (sax).

https://www.magdamayas.com/