DCXXXII. STOCKHAUSEN, Karlheinz (1928-2007)
See also Samstag aus Licht.
**
MONDAY GREETING (EVE'S GREETING)
for multiple basset-horns and electric keyboards instruments.
On entering the theatre foyer, one has the impression of being underwater. Everything is bathed in greenish waves in which the rays of the sun are refracted, bent and mirrored. Basset horn music is heard -- muted, many-layered, unbelievably stretched-out, reaching the lowest depths -- and from time to time the splashing and rushing of water. In the waves, a life-size woman's figure with basset horn can be discerned, and around the perimeter there are eleven more photographs of this basset horn player in various playing positions: 12 playing poses, like the 12 pitches of the mirrored EVE formula.
ACT I -- EVE'S FIRST BIRTH-GIVING
EXPECTING
Softly laughing women approach, individually and in groups. They can be seen only faintly. With them, they bring containers, pails, cloths, sponges, baskets, ladders on beach carts. They lean the ladders against the woman statue, and fetch water from the sea.
At the left on the horizon, the thin crescent of the waxing moon rises. Suddenly, a red-green searchlight slowly rotates to the right, and the three women on a platform in the pulpit turn with it. At the same time, the moon behind the tower rises towards the right. When the searchlight and the women are facing to the right, the moon stands half-right at its summit.
All the women beging to sing. The moon sinks. At the moment when the searchlight and the three sopranos turn past us, the moon sinks below the horizon at the right. When the searchlight and the sopranos are facing to the left, a slightly larger crescent moon again rises on the horizon at the left of the tower. Through the rotating searchlight, one senses that the lighthouse has the contours of a naked woman's figure, seated in the sand with her back to the terrace. She is leaning back on her arms, and is looking out to the sea.
From the moment the searchlight was switched on, the gathered women have begun to treat the statue from head to foot -- starting at the forehead: pouring water over it -- washing-rinsing, drying-rubbing-oiling, creaming-making up-perfuming. Aromas of herbs and perfumes interchange and mingle. From the singing it becomes clear that an EVE statue is being prepared for a celebration of birth, a ceremony for the veneration of the mother.
At the moment when the searchlight is pointing to the right and the moon is at its summit, the womb of the statue as well as the sky begin to glow. An embryo in its first month of life can be seen inside the womb -- and much larger in the nocturnal sky.
The moon rises and sets nine times, slightly waxing each time until full moon. At the same time -- in the womb and as heavenly apparition -- one sees a growing foetus in its second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth months of life, and in a few intermediary stages.
Just before the beginning of the second month, the women quickly climb down from the ladders. A few of them pull back the ladders and hold them. The others run to the arms and legs of the statue and turn it slightly to the right, in a few jerks.
This is repeated before the beginning of each successive month. At the ninth month the statue sits with its right profile to the terrace. Its legs are slightly pulled up. In the course of the gradual turning, one can make out the forms and features of a beautiful, noble woman. She is looking towards her womb.
In the music of these 9 periods, 9 cycles can be heard, in which a musical formula grows and becomes increasingly alive.
We are in a multi-storied house with inner courtyard. In front of us is a terrace ending at a huge venetian blind. The inner courtyard is dimly lit by small green lamps. The basset horn music previously heard in the foyer becomes gradually louder. Night falls -- only two small lamps remain.
With a low accent, the venetian blind opens upwards. A woman's voice is humming -- bedded in a strange sound. It is night. Indistinctly, one can make out that a flat sandy beach begins behind the portal. The sea smells strongly of salty sea water. At the half-left one senses something like a tower as high as the portal. High in the tower burns a dim, greenish light in a pulpit, which looks like the transparent throat of a huge female head, with hair bound up, seen from the rear. In the pulpit one can see the backs of three naked women - from head to hips -- standing next to each other.
Beyond the strip of sand, the sea foam calmly breathes back and forth. The nocturnal sea very faintly shimmers as far as the horizon. The heavens are starlit.
With a low accent, the venetian blind opens upwards. A woman's voice is humming -- bedded in a strange sound. It is night. Indistinctly, one can make out that a flat sandy beach begins behind the portal. The sea smells strongly of salty sea water. At the half-left one senses something like a tower as high as the portal. High in the tower burns a dim, greenish light in a pulpit, which looks like the transparent throat of a huge female head, with hair bound up, seen from the rear. In the pulpit one can see the backs of three naked women - from head to hips -- standing next to each other.
Beyond the strip of sand, the sea foam calmly breathes back and forth. The nocturnal sea very faintly shimmers as far as the horizon. The heavens are starlit.
Softly laughing women approach, individually and in groups. They can be seen only faintly. With them, they bring containers, pails, cloths, sponges, baskets, ladders on beach carts. They lean the ladders against the woman statue, and fetch water from the sea.
At the left on the horizon, the thin crescent of the waxing moon rises. Suddenly, a red-green searchlight slowly rotates to the right, and the three women on a platform in the pulpit turn with it. At the same time, the moon behind the tower rises towards the right. When the searchlight and the women are facing to the right, the moon stands half-right at its summit.
All the women beging to sing. The moon sinks. At the moment when the searchlight and the three sopranos turn past us, the moon sinks below the horizon at the right. When the searchlight and the sopranos are facing to the left, a slightly larger crescent moon again rises on the horizon at the left of the tower. Through the rotating searchlight, one senses that the lighthouse has the contours of a naked woman's figure, seated in the sand with her back to the terrace. She is leaning back on her arms, and is looking out to the sea.
From the moment the searchlight was switched on, the gathered women have begun to treat the statue from head to foot -- starting at the forehead: pouring water over it -- washing-rinsing, drying-rubbing-oiling, creaming-making up-perfuming. Aromas of herbs and perfumes interchange and mingle. From the singing it becomes clear that an EVE statue is being prepared for a celebration of birth, a ceremony for the veneration of the mother.
At the moment when the searchlight is pointing to the right and the moon is at its summit, the womb of the statue as well as the sky begin to glow. An embryo in its first month of life can be seen inside the womb -- and much larger in the nocturnal sky.
The moon rises and sets nine times, slightly waxing each time until full moon. At the same time -- in the womb and as heavenly apparition -- one sees a growing foetus in its second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth months of life, and in a few intermediary stages.
Just before the beginning of the second month, the women quickly climb down from the ladders. A few of them pull back the ladders and hold them. The others run to the arms and legs of the statue and turn it slightly to the right, in a few jerks.
This is repeated before the beginning of each successive month. At the ninth month the statue sits with its right profile to the terrace. Its legs are slightly pulled up. In the course of the gradual turning, one can make out the forms and features of a beautiful, noble woman. She is looking towards her womb.
In the music of these 9 periods, 9 cycles can be heard, in which a musical formula grows and becomes increasingly alive.
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