A sound composition by Gilles Aubry in collaboration with Bouchra Errahmani and Audrey Chen
The composition showcases sung poetry and ecological voices from the Taghia Canyon in the Moroccan Atlas. The water spring within this canyon holds special significance, revered as a sanctuary for Nana Agouti, a saint considered the mother of the community. Diverse voices inhabit this environment, including sung poetry, the sounds of rivers and rocks, the presence of saints and spirits, and fluctuating radio frequencies. The essence of the piece hinges on matriphonic transmission and interspecies co-formation, expressed in the composition through songs from three generations of women. Izlan poetry not only extols virtues, fertility, and communal life but also provides a platform for younger women to express their concerns about traditions and gender roles. Work songs and prayers unveil profound interconnections with the environment, in which non-human beings act as mediators between humans and supernatural forces, facilitating reciprocal exchanges. The composition also features vocal interventions by Audrey Chen, who was invited to improvise in response to the field recordings. Chen’s empathic listening is channeled through her voice, thus extending the matriphonic principle inherent in the composition.
Duration: 47’50’’
CREDITS
Gilles Aubry – recording, composition and mixing
Bouchra Errahmani – speech and vocals
Women from Agouti: Haju, Taza, Zahra and Rqia – vocals
Audrey Chen – vocals
Linda Fouad – research assistant and translation
Premiere on German National Radio (Deutschland Funk), Klangkunst, June 2nd 2023, 00:05