SeeNoHearNoSpeakNo (2011)

3 Dancers, Viola, String Bass, and Percussion – 10 min.

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Program Note

SeeNoHearNoSpeakNo (2011) assigns the character of each of the three wise monkeys of the pictorial maxim “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” to a member of an instrumental trio who is in turn paired with a dancer. The viola is “SeeNo” consists entirely of different varieties of trills, as she is attacked by buzzings of all the things she can’t see with her eyes covered. The percussionist (“HearNo”) is assigned an array of 12 pots and pans, three courses of four, one course damped, one muted, and the third ringing freeing. Moving from one course to another replicates the effect of covering and uncovering your ears. “SpeakNo” is the string bass, who begins each statement with a boisterous blurting, and then, remembering himself, tones it down gradually to silence. SeeNoHearNoSpeakNo was composed for violist Rose Wollman.