Toucher - Vinko Globokar

Toucher
by Vinko Globokar
Performed by Morris Palter
at the University of Kentucky
Singletary Center for the Arts
April 11, 2007

"Toucher" (1973) illustrates the French-born avant-gardist Vinko Globokar's delight in combining spoken and instrumental sound to the point where the elements seem to form a single language. The text is from Bertolt Brecht's powerful play, The Life of Galileo, a series of short dialectical scenes involving discussions with the great astronomer/philosopher on the nature of faith and heroism. A single performer reads all the parts (including stage directions) in French, and accompanies him- or herself on seven instruments of choice, using only fingers and palm of the hand (hence "Toucher"). The attempt is to integrate instrumental and vocal sounds so that the instruments themselves seem to be "speaking."

Morris is the Artistic Director of Ensemble 64.8 (UAF percussion ensemble), the Artistic Director for the University of Alaska Fairbanks New Music Festival, the World Music Artistic Coordinator for the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, and the Co-Artistic Director for the SoundON Modern Music Festival held each year in San Diego.

More info about Morris Palter at:
http://morrispalter.com/

Please check out more videos in my channel!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Morris
• Palter
• Toucher
• Globokar
• Vinko
• drama
• percussion
• Galileo
• avant
• garde
• solo
• concert
• recital
• Alaska
• University
• 64.8

[GreggaryPeccary]

Is that french? Great performance!

[morrispalter]

Yes, it is indeed in french. It is a translation of the Bertolt Brecht play "The Life of Galileo" and tells the story of his ill-fated discovery regarding the earth and the sun. The composer is Globokar. There are around 18 different characters involved in the 6 scenes (after each scene as a brief musical interlude on one instrument). Glad you liked it! It is a lot of fun to perform.

[architekpercussion]

that person whispering at 5:28 really freaked me out..

[halfaman]

Why played it so fast? I mean, it goes really quick, even sometimes the narration can't be discernible... The tempo is not correct from my point of view.

[andyleggett18]

This is amazing.

[Pordoshongox]

First heard Toucher from an album titled Gravity. The only CD with Globokar's participation in my university: "La Pontificia Pulentard". I feel some much pleasure with the pronouncement, "Galilei" timing, almost like a fine salchicha.

Greetings from Chile, keep hitting stuff with such sense.

[ChibiRaikou]

there is a child whispering really close to the mic at 5:26

[nevern131]

absolutely phenomenal! great performance.

[entheomycophagist]

you have an immense talent! thanks for being my first exposure to Globokar. I'm going to watch several more of his pieces right now.

[pookiehohn]

Well, it certainly is avante garde.

[mprimecoleman]

I remember your performance of this piece, as well as a few other pieces which you have also posted, at ASU a year or two ago. These videos are invaluable to the percussion world. Thanks for posting great performances of the music of all of these great composers.

[jest224]

vinko globokar is the best