Absolute Continuity

The programme of the Absolute Continuity concert includes works by Greek composers for double bass and electronic media, with the use of a continuum substrate as a common structural feature. At the centre of the concert is the historic “En Pyri” by Stephanos Vassiliadis, dedicated to the memory of the composer Jani Christou.

The concert begins with the work “…tis en pylesi…” by Alexandros Kalogeras, for double bass and tape: a monodrama inspired by the “Bacchae”, the tragedy composed by Euripides at the end of his life.

It continues with “DarkLoupe”, a work by Thanos Polymeneas-Liontiris for double bass, live electronic sound processing and video projection.

This is followed by the first world presentation of Dimitris Bakas’ work “Absolute Continuity”, for amplified double bass and pre-recorded material, a composition based on the technique of recording the cardiogram that D. Bakas initiated with the Cardiogram string quartet. In an absolute sonic continuity, the composer creates a timbral style with a strong sense of concentration.

The concert concludes with “En Pyri” by Stephanos Vassiliadis, the first recorded case of a composition for double bass and electronic media in the Greek repertoire. Surviving, with the Semitekolo couple, the car accident of January 8, 1970, which claimed the lives of Jani Christou, his wife, Theresia, and Vasiliadis’ own wife, Anastasia, the composer narrates the chronicle of that fateful night through the electronic part of the tape and the transcendental dynamism of the modern double bass.

The works:

• Alexandros Kalogeras – “…tis en pylesi…” (1991), for double bass and tape

• Thanos Polymeneas-Liontiris – “DarkLoupe” (2008), for double bass, live electronic sound processing and video projection

• Dimitris Bakas – “Absolute Continuity” (2011), for amplified double bass and pre-recorded material

• Stephanos Vassiliadis – “En Pyri” (1973/1975), for double bass and tape

Participants:

Charis Pazaroulas – double bass & program curation

Nefeli Stamatogiannopoulou – handling of audio material (“…tis en pylesi…”, “En Pyri”)

Thanos Polymeneas-Liontiris – audio and video projection handling (“DarkLoupe”)

Dimitris Bakas – handling of audio material (“Absolute Continuity”)

Eleni Choumou – lighting design

Charis Pazaroulas is a PhD candidate at the Department of Music Science and Art of the University of Macedonia. The concert “Absolute Continuity – Works for double bass and electronic media” is part of his doctoral thesis.