Folies

Instrumentation

Bass clarinet
1
Cello
1
Clarinet
1
Flute
1
French Horn
1
Soprano
1
Viola
1
Violin
1

Additional Information

Folies (2016) is a piece of music theatre for dancer, soprano, bass clarinet and ensemble.

The selected text is taken from a poem by the Italian Futurist poet Aldo Palazzeschi; E Lasciatemi Divertire! (Let Me Amuse You!) which explores the nature of what it is to be a ‘creator’, and the conflict between artistic freedom on the one hand, and the oppression of (perceived) criticism and judgement on the other. The original poem contains many nonsensical words which implies the collapse of sense but the words begin to suggest their own meaning as we try to interpret the inflections and phonetic sounds (“it’s like when someone gets to singing without really knowing the words”). The piece demonstrates how fine the line is between artistic freedom and madness: one is fun, and acceptable to society, and the other is worrying, perplexing and traumatic for others to observe.

Part of 'Embodiments' - four new pieces created by Platform 4 following a collaboration with dancer and choreographer Hannah Wadsworth.

Details

Year
Minutes
20

Recordings

Date recorded
Saturday 24th September 2016
Performers
Hannah Wadsworth (dancer), Andrea Tweedale (soprano), Tom Owen (bass clarinet) and Platform 4
Title
Folies
Venue
University Drama Studio, Sheffield