MEDIATHEK

Behaviour Patterns is a musical theatre strongly inspired by ethology, thus exploring the relationship between humans’ and animals’ behaviour and language. 4 movements that can be interpreted separately constitute the work, which are altogether coherent by the parallel being shown between animal and human communication involving sound. Each movement focuses in a precise subject, though unity is found by the systematic utilisation of music (occidental and extra-occidental), spoken language and animal sounds. 

// 1."Darwin Innamorato": for 2 singers – 11 min. A love duet quoting birds’ and mammals’ love parade sounds, as well as Inuit Throat Singing and a duo d’amore from Verdi’s La Traviata. These different elements are displayed at a same level so as to abolish cultural hierarchy among ritual sounds created to accomplish the reproduction act. The score demands a detailed placement of singers depending on what acoustic situation is to be recalled, 

// 2."Travelling": for men choir (from 30 to 84 singers, depending on local possibilities, a mix of amateur and professional is possible) -20 min (score sketches attached to the application) A constantly evolving portrait of different soundscapes quoting - among many others - rain, frogs, Balinese Monkey chant, anthems, stock markets. The choir is not to be seen by spectators and sounds are constantly moving across the choir so as to create the “Travelling” cinema effect, but also to increase synaesthetic impression of sounds produced. 

// 3. "The Wall": for men choir divided in 2 groups – 5 min. Each group is on one side of the hall, at the audience’s space. A racist insult battle takes place, the spectators being in-between. The two choirs gradually shift to a massive unison bark. 

// 4. "Médiums, Média": for Ondes Martenot, voice, tape & 2 performers - 20 min. The interpreter plays, sings, speaks, screams and controls the amplification of the sounds coming from her body (throat, heart, intestines). In a television channel-surfing fashion she quotes Sufi chants, an Afro-American gospel speech, erotic sounds and a soccer television commentator. 

// The 2 performers are inside the audience’s space to create a ritual device including two kinds of actions: 1: spreading scents (incense, perfumes, etc) 2: distribute to the spectators various objects related to domination of human being over animals (identification rings, feeding products etc.) The tape diffuses blood flux sounds, previously recorded by an Ecograph Doppler.