The second performance evening of the 2016 Symposium at PGVIM carried on an investigation of music as a bridge facilitating cultural and social integrations. 

If the first evening proposed juxtapositions of a variety of musical idioms in their original traditional form, this second offering looked at musical practices that aim at venturing outside the established paths. Looking at differences and assumed incompatibilities as opportunities to open up new windows for creativity rather than building walls. The evening used Debussy’s ‘Sonate for Harp, Viola and flute’ as a starting point. 

The piece, written by Debussy near the end of his life at the beginning of WW1, explores the musical potential of this unusual trio combination in a very unique way as if the composer found some sort of solace through the resolution of conflicting sonorities in music at a time of unresolvable international political divide. A century later, we seem to have come full circle again as we witness the rise of nationalist resentments in many parts of the world. Music is more than ever needed to transcend the differences that divide people. Tuning into the past and the present, the evening’s performances investigated the interferences and differences that form our illusionary musical boundaries and often settle in the spaces between, sweeping through the airwaves to discover some of the sonic possibilities still hiding behind our musical horizons. The program featured music by Debussy, compositions by pioneers of twentieth century music as well as pieces and improvisations freshly designed during our Symposium’s workshops interspersed with a touch of electronics and visual art. 

Radio Sonata part II 

Composed by Jean-David Caillouet from a theme by Claude Debussy 

Nigel Osborne, Wave speech translator

Anant Narkkong, Radio

Dieter Mack, Conductor 

Phataporn Preechanon, Flute 

Mervin Wong, Viola 

Teo Charmaine, Harp 

Suppabhorn Suwanpakdee, Viola 

Pongthep Jitduangprem, Viola 

Rittichut Phetmunin, Bass Clarinet 

Kampanart Chantima, Clarinet 

Sound recording: Palut Pawaratison 

Jean-David Caillouet: Visuals and Electronics 

ธัชวงศ์ ศิริสวัสดิ์, Camera 

Gabriel Camelin, Visual assistance 

Jean-David Caillouet, Video editing, audio mixing and mastering

Recorded live during PGVIM’s 4th international Symposium. Sound recording: Palut Pawaratison