artist: JANEK SCHAEFER
title: Extended Play (Triptych For The Child Survivors Of War And Conflict)
label: 12k / L-ne
country: USA
format: CD
title: Extended Play (Triptych For The Child Survivors Of War And Conflict)
label: 12k / L-ne
country: USA
format: CD
"Red is the colour of Life, of Death, and of Love. Scarlett, my first child, was born in 2005,
and since then I have been very aware of how lucky we all are. I have been constantly
comparing this to the fact that my mother was born in Warsaw in 1942 - the epicentre of
World War II. How opposite can two beginnings be? This inspired me to produce the
Extended Play installation, which continuously and positively celebrates hope and new
beginnings, for child survivors in all situations around the world.
The original idea for the composition, came from learning about the 'Jodoform' system of
secret musical messages, that were broadcast by the BBC World Service, during World
War II. The music they played was given a particular meaning, which was interpreted by
The Polish Underground. I discovered from the original Jodoform log book, that the lovely
Polish folk song 'Tango Lyczakowskie', was broadcast on the day my mother was born.
The song describes how children in 1918, had been forced to take up arms, in defense of
their town. From this tune, I chose a short rising musical phrase, and with my arranger
Michael Jennings, developed a ten minute score. Each of the three solo parts was then
recorded separately, edited, and cut onto vinyl. In the gallery, 3 x Cello EP's, 3 x Piano
EP's, and 3 x Violin EP's are played at either 33, 45, or 78rpm using nine retro record
players. These play continuously, and each was modified to stop playing briefly in
response to the audience moving around the exhibition. This has the effect of changing
and extending the composition, so that it is never the same again." (Janek Schaefer)
and since then I have been very aware of how lucky we all are. I have been constantly
comparing this to the fact that my mother was born in Warsaw in 1942 - the epicentre of
World War II. How opposite can two beginnings be? This inspired me to produce the
Extended Play installation, which continuously and positively celebrates hope and new
beginnings, for child survivors in all situations around the world.
The original idea for the composition, came from learning about the 'Jodoform' system of
secret musical messages, that were broadcast by the BBC World Service, during World
War II. The music they played was given a particular meaning, which was interpreted by
The Polish Underground. I discovered from the original Jodoform log book, that the lovely
Polish folk song 'Tango Lyczakowskie', was broadcast on the day my mother was born.
The song describes how children in 1918, had been forced to take up arms, in defense of
their town. From this tune, I chose a short rising musical phrase, and with my arranger
Michael Jennings, developed a ten minute score. Each of the three solo parts was then
recorded separately, edited, and cut onto vinyl. In the gallery, 3 x Cello EP's, 3 x Piano
EP's, and 3 x Violin EP's are played at either 33, 45, or 78rpm using nine retro record
players. These play continuously, and each was modified to stop playing briefly in
response to the audience moving around the exhibition. This has the effect of changing
and extending the composition, so that it is never the same again." (Janek Schaefer)
