METAMORPHOSIS ONE from the DVD 'Zachàr Plays Glass'

A work from the ZACHAR PLAYS GLASS series (music composed by glass; performed, choreographed & edited by Laskewicz). The METAMORPHOSIS series was the stimulus for the creation of the 'Zachàr Plays Glass' DVD which I brought out earlier this year. Since its completion during a rapid period of make-up, hair-colour change, intense rehearsal of the consistent repeating motional series and after that the editing, I've realised that the 'metmorphosis' implicit in the title taken from Ovid's work finds a special expression unique to what I've tried to do with the deliberate reference towards retro film techniques and silent film being accompanied by piano music. As the pieces are worked through, I'll describe other subtle levels of metamorphosis I've noticed; maybe you can see others too. This first piece is highly influenced by my training in the refinement of Asian dance, particulary Javanese, where the retaining of poise of style is far above the organic overenthusiasm of western romanticism. The clock represents the influence music has on the way we experience time; it's also a temporal marker in placing the film somehere in the period in which the clock was designed. My hair is blonde; face is reduced to allow the most subtle of expressions to have an impact. For me this stands in almost perfect opposition to Metamorphosis Five, grey-haired, exhausted, and stuck within the cycling of the clock which keeps him performing the same series.

The music, of course, remains copyright to Philip Glass himself; the piano choreography (not a mean feat in itself), the dance, the design and the film itself, remains copyright to me, Writer Full Member of the A.P.R.A. This introductory sequence is actually from the DVD itself; when you put the DVD in, before coming to the menu you see this dynamic sequence which uses music Glass' Wichita Vortex Sutra. I'm always open for commentary and you can find out more about my work via my websites : http://www.nachtschimmen.com, or http://www.nachtschimmen.eu. I can be contacted personally via the email address zachar@nachtschimmen.be.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• piano
• music
• experimental
• Asian
• dance
• camp

[0LexLuthor0]

I love this music, I first heard it in Battlestar Galactica when it was being played in Starbuck's apartment. This guy is a brilliant pianist, but a bit of a jerk and a show off with the stupid hand movements, and what the hell is up with that hair do???????

[zaxander]

Thanks for you positive message about my ability as a piano player. The piece is the first in a series of five. In each piece, a transformation occurs; on the one handextreme stylisation and on the other extreme romanticism as it develops a new level; the strange hand movements are a stliization of piano movements to the extreme; the hair/make-up and the metaphor of the clocks is designed to produce an effect of estrangement or even bodily dislocation [contd.]

[samwisev]

"As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from restless dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into an enormous insect."

Great playing.

[It762]

This is why i would like to have a real piano. I cannot really play but hopefully I'll be able to get the spirit of the original over one day. Still a long way to learn...

Nice playing and acting to the song.

[papasitoman]

This is really good, mate. It makes me feel that I am seeing something I've never seen before but recognize...I guess that doesn't make sense :)

Nice work. I subscribed.

[sonicpsychiatry]

Imbecile

[sonicpsychiatry]

This is brilliant parody on Philip Ass. Even if it isn't parody, it's still BRILLIANT!!! We need more!!!!!!

[nachtschimmen]

Thanks for the kind comment - a pleasant change from most reactions which attempt to criticise rather than encourage.

[TechState]

Awesome track, well played :) nice trippy vid too. thanks for posting 5/5