Vexations - The Performers

Jenny Price - pianist

2008-11-30T08:35:00.001Z

Enjoyed the experience very much, was rather scary but had a great atmoshere, would definetly do it again.

Ben Hall

2008-11-30T08:10:00.002Z

I think I'll go home and write another version now - perhaps the Vexations sequel might, like a new James Bond story, extend the franchise....

Sion Smith - Pianist

2008-11-30T07:35:00.001Z

strange thimg to be doing at 6 in the moring or any time....felt very relaxed and inside the music...

Jennifer Lagesse - Pianist

2008-11-30T06:56:00.001Z

Fantastic experience. Really enjoyed being part of vexations. Jennifer Lagesse

suzie shrubb

2008-11-30T06:26:00.002Z

here i am for the second time. the first time i wrote on this blog i managed to crash the computer, thusly saving everyone from the pretentious rubbish i had written!
i have now been listening to vexations for about 7 hours, but it has not become vexing. instead it seems fresh each time i hear it or play it, paradoxically there seems to be a comfort in the familiarity of this music. it seems to groove along too, which is nice, although i am sure that satie would not have though any of these things when writing this piece. i wish he was here to see and hear what we are doing.
i have just been talking to ben socrates and he suggested playing this piece in a gorilla suit. or, what about a big bird costume? maybe next time.

Ben Socrates

2008-11-30T05:55:00.001Z

Suzie you're a machine!!

I'm gonna see how much more I can take before getting some shuteye. Good luck to the rest of yous and well done everyone else.

Nic Blair

2008-11-30T05:41:00.000Z

oh my god! I'm still up and its still happening, Will it ever end...

Ben Socrates

2008-11-30T05:08:00.002Z

Phew.......................................................

Its been a long day and I should probably get some sleep but what a day!

I'm sort of happy with how it went although I was pretty anxious for the first half and it took longer than I expected. Probably took a few too many liberties with it but I suppose it came off pretty exciting.

I'm incredibly impressed with the musicians, dancers and everyone that made it happen, its definitely broadened my outlook on music, how the repetition plays with your mind and the absence of any conventional tonality. I realise that my sentences aren't making much sense but thats what sleep deprivation and vexations does to me.

Well done everyone!x

Robert Rayner

2008-11-30T04:38:00.002Z

It was a really interesting experience, and its strange to think i absolutely hated this piece 2 weeks ago! its great to have been a part of this, defititely something i'd like to do again!

Chris

2008-11-30T03:35:00.001Z

great experience and I hope to be able to do it again.

Charelle Griffith - dancer

2008-11-30T02:47:00.002Z

no one should have to dance this early in the morning. I feel tired and only been here for a few hours, can not imagine how exhaustated the original 4 dancers feel.

Charelle Griffith - dancer

2008-11-30T02:47:00.000Z

no one should have to dance this early in the morning. I feel tired and only been here for a few hours, can not imagine how exhaustated the original 4 dancers feel.

Jamie Gordon

2008-11-30T02:41:00.002Z

Hmmmmm..... vexating to say the least! Quite tedious and nerve racking at first, but then you really get into it quite alot. A lot of scope for putting emotion and your own tempo and dynamics into the piece and the visuals with the dancers and art work is really beneficial for the performance. However i don't think i would consider doing it again, all i'm thinking about now is my bed!

Jimmy Glockler

2008-11-30T02:18:00.002Z

When I first started the piece i was not sure what to expect, but as it continued on I felt more comfortable with it I found the music much nicer to play and almost attractive. Vexations has been an enjoyable event and I found it very exciting.

JP

2008-11-30T02:12:00.003Z

Coming to that moment in the piece when the world seems to shrink - everything becomes very focused and silent. Here in the Showroom time feels as though it is moving at a slower pace. Amazingly beautiful movement from the dancers.

Ben Lathbury

2008-11-30T01:08:00.002Z

Well...that was different. After playing I found myself to be slightly light-headed and dizzy...a bit like I'd been asleep for 36 hours. For anybody who hasn't been yet, here are a couple of tips for keeping the concentration:

1) When going into the top variation, play the main theme with the right hand, when going into the bottom variation, play the main theme with the left. It worked for me...I didn't lose where I was!

2) Vary it. Dynamics, articulation, tempo...anything you can think of...it'll keep the interest going and should help towards you not getting lost. Maybe it's cheating a bit but meh...it makes it more interesting.

All in all...a fun experience. I'd love to go downstairs and do another 48 repetitions but I've politely been asked to go home. Probably sound advice...I want to go to bed anyway.

Peace and love people and best of luck.

x x x

Mary counting

2008-11-30T00:33:00.002Z

It was interesting that Ben experimented with tempo, and dynamics quite alot, which made if very interesting to listen to, and I will interested to know what Ben says afterwards.

Adam Swayne

2008-11-30T00:26:00.001Z

...

Jonathan Plowright

2008-11-30T00:23:00.003Z

Getting late - interesting how all interpretations are different. Shame the sandwiches aren't......

Charelle Griffith - dancer

2008-11-30T00:00:00.001Z

I'm a last minute recruit and just about to go on. I'm slightly nervous knowing the whole world is watching

Holly Down - Dancer

2008-11-29T23:57:00.002Z

Half way through! WooHoo! Bit scary that it is nearly tomorrow! The music is kind of blending into the background now, and my feet are melting into the floor!! Oh well, the show must go on!! XxX

mary washer

2008-11-29T23:41:00.002Z

I found as I got into the music, that I wanted to dedicate each repetition to close family, and think of them, as if they were there, this created space for them, and they became part of the performance, and also a sense of wishing they were there- I felt completely connected.

rita

2008-11-29T23:38:00.001Z

I feel so funny when I playing this song.
I really want to do it again next time^^.

Tej Lander

2008-11-29T23:25:00.001Z

Wow that was interesting, I found that it became progressively easier as time went on, and Satie's hypnotic tritones took hold. I hope he isn't turning in his grave with some of my more 'improvised' repeats! Good luck to the other performers!

The Dan in the Hat =)

2008-11-29T23:09:00.001Z

Definately very vexating, hope you all enjoyed it =)

Dan =) (The one with the cool black hat!!!!)

Vexations Project Manager

2008-11-29T22:29:00.002Z

Did anyone hear about the sandwiches? Now there's a Vexing story! Enjoying the performance. Amazing!

shakey

2008-11-29T22:09:00.000Z

it was pretty crazy and makes u think about everything in life, def worth trying!!!

Lucy Neeve

2008-11-29T21:37:00.001Z

The wierdest experinece of piano playing i have ever had, but a brilliant one. well worth doing.
24 times went so quickly.

chen yangyang

2008-11-29T21:20:00.000Z

Its very interesting and have enjoyed the experience

2008-11-29T21:09:00.001Z

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.
i. VAT on sex (anag)

Nic Blair

2008-11-29T20:32:00.002Z

I cant believe its running so smoothly. We probably wont be saying that at 2am but hye the music's meant to send you craxy. All in the name of art!

nic Blair

2008-11-29T19:47:00.002Z

It was one of the weirdest things i have ever spent 32 minutes of my life doing, but i'm definately glad i was told to do it. Although the video interviews and cameras where off putting, I did feel like a miniature celebrity with all the attention, and I gotta admire the pianists that play from memory even with a bloke stalking them around the room with a camera!!

2008-11-29T19:42:00.002Z

This has been a very interesting experience and playing 24 repeats actually went really quickly. I did feel like I was doing a dramatic reading of the phone book though!

It was a good idea to have the dancers and the art installation going on at the same time as it took some pressure off me as the pianist. It also made it more intriguing to watch.

Vexations Project Manager

2008-11-29T17:36:00.003Z

A crazy day preparing Vexations - and now as I begin to relax a little, the music continues the craziness, extending my day into night...

I have little idea of what time it is as it is constantly dark and I only have the repetitions to guide me.

Wonder how long people have been listening?

Vexations Project Manager

Ben Hall

2008-11-29T15:52:00.002Z

This has to be one of those more surprising events - allowing (unexpectedly) a pianist to behave almost exactly as they would wish: endless recrossing of the same processes. I've really enjoyed myself so far....

The performers

2008-11-24T12:28:00.000Z

Vexations will be performed by almost 100 artists from the disciplines of music, dance and fine art. Performers include students, teachers and local professionals, each taking their turn to express their art in response to the 840 unique yet identical repetitions.

On this blog you can read about their own individual experience of Vexations.