weaving Voices 01.04.2025 issuu - Flipbook - Page 27
with the whole choir community during the rehearsals through collective
brainstorming, improvisation and musical games.
In this chapter, we will try to explain a little bit more about our KOMP
method. We’ll also try to unfold the process in which we applied KOMP in
a rehabilitation centre for addicts: for in 2023 we started working with the
patients of Leo Amici 2002 Foundation of Komló, Southern Hungary.46
Rules and agreements of collective composing
In the beginning of our workshops we always lay down a few ground rules
in order to support our participants in a safe and playful environment
throughout the session.47 The first and most important principle is that there
is no wrong or right way of using the voice, as long as it does not cause
any pain or harm. There are no wrong notes either. All in all, we can say
with utmost certainty that it is impossible to make a mistake in our games.
If participants do defer from the rules of a game, we encourage them to
emphasise this difference and turn it into a deliberate musical statement
instead of trying to hide it as a mistake. Our games are never played the
same way, as participants are always different, and the voice is always in flux.
One day it may run smoothly, the next day it might get rough, so each time it
is our quest to acknowledge and work with what we have on that day without
judgement.
Another important request we have is that there should be no ruining of
the game. It is important to take the games seriously, making it enjoyable
and safe for everyone involved. It is also worth mentioning the obvious: our
games have no winners. There is no competition, only the joy and bliss of
being absorbed in play.
Five examples from the Soharóza’s collection of KOMP games
SOUND FOREST
Description: Sound Forest (also known as Atmospheres, which is a general
form of the Monster Game described above) might be the simplest KOMP
46 Website: Leo Amici 2002 Alapítvány (n.d.) Leo Amici. Available at: https://leoamici.hu/ [Accessed 22 Jun. 2024].
47 As members of Soharóza we utilise KOMP in our own rehearsals, but we also hold workshops for groups of kids,
adults and mixed groups – e.g. families – as well. Summer camps, temporary homes for less-than-fortunate families
also get in our focus from time to time. The workshops don’t take place regularly, rather when we’re invited to do
so. Sometimes we use KOMP as a tool to introduce a new project to our audience because we always prefer to do
our thing in an interactive, inclusive way.
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game. The members walk around the room, holding long musical tones.
One exhale = one tone. When you finish one breath, stop and decide on
the next note. Always listen carefully before you start singing to make sure
that you are adding the best possible tone to what is already sounding in
the air. You have time. There is no rush. Silence is also music. Wait for your
moment.
Aha! moment: As you walk amongst the group members and make your
sound within this huge cluster of notes, you feel the power of dissolving
into some monumental harmony. Practising a sustained note over a long
breath, using movement of the arms and body, is also a perfect way to
strengthen your intonation and voice. Finally, if you do manage to stay
silent and listen until there is space for you to sing, you will understand the
importance of the collective over the individual and allow this notion to
lead you in your spontaneous composition.
Examples:
• DLA Doctorate Concert of Dóra Halas 2013: EPITAPH FOR TIME –
rephrase of the Seikilos epitaph, the oldest surviving complete musical
composition 48
• Soharóza’s Improvisation Studio Recording 2011: FURROWS – distant
song of three women engraved in the furrows of time 49
• Soharóza’s Improvisation Studio Recording 2011: ATMOSPHERES
– rephrase of Petrarca’s text and Monteverdi’s music from Hor che’l ciel
e la terra.50
WORD IMPROV
Description: Choose a word – any word in any language – and create a 4/4
loop out of it in any way you want. You can break up the word into sounds
or syllables, you can make small repetitions, you can give it melody or just
chant it or make funny effects with it. There is no limit. The other members
do the same with other words, simultaneously, making a choral piece
out of word-based loops. Variations may include creating loops together
48 01 - DLA - epitaph - for - time - szeikilosz - sirfelirata (2014) SoundCloud. Available at: https://soundcloud.
com/soharoza/01-dla-epitaph-for-time-szeikilosz-sirfelirata?in=soharoza%2Fsets%2Fdla-koncert [Accessed 22
Jun. 2024].
49 Furrows – distant song of three women engraved in the furrows of time, by Soharóza (2017) Soharóza Bandcamp. Available at: https://soharoza.bandcamp.com/track/furrows-distant-song-of-three-women-engraved-inthe-furrows-of-time [Accessed 22 Jun. 2024].
50 Atmospheres – rephrase of Petrarca’s text and Monteverdi’s music from ‘hor che’l ciel e la terra’, by Soharóza (2017) Soharóza Bandcamp. Available at: https://soharoza.bandcamp.com/track/atmospheres-rephrase-of-petrarcas-text-and-monteverdis-music-from-hor-chel-ciel-e-la-terra [Accessed 22 Jun. 2024].
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