Festival Brings “Sound Poetry” and Classical Music

By Vanessa Wolf

Jaap Blonk, presumably performing some sound poetry. Courtesy photo

This month, Ebb & Flow Arts will be hosting a two day mini-festival, the first of its five-part “North South East West Festival 2013.”

On Friday, May 17, 7:30pm, at Iao Congregational Church in Wailuku, Dutch poet Jaap Blond will perform. The event is free to the public.

Blonk has performing “sound poetry” all over the world for three decades.

This unique art form began in the early 20th century and is described as combining “the music of poetry, the humor of Lewis Carroll’s ‘Jabberwocky,’ and the made-up sounds of jazz’s ‘scat,’” which right there sounds so psychedelic you almost have to check it out.

Blonk will be reciting a 20 minute composition – “one of the first and major sound poems” – “Ur Sonate,” by Kurt Schwitters.

He will also be performing his own original work, including “Dr. Voxoid,” and adding multi-media components to his performances.

If your mind isn’t completely blown at that point – or perhaps if it is – set aside Saturday, May 18 at 7:30 p.m. to calm things down as you head to the Makawao Union Church on Baldwin Avenue.

Another Jaap Blonk “Sound Poetry” action shot. Courtesy photo

Honolulu-based musicians Susan McGinn, flutist, and Colin Belisle, both members of the Hawaii Symphony will be performing with Maui residents Tatyana Shaprio-Leiste and Beatrice Scorb.

The four will be performing words for flute, viola, and harp by Igor Stravinsky, Alexander Scriabin, Gabriel Faure, Claude Debussy, Edgar Varese, and Malcolm Arnold.

A central work on this program is one of Claude Debussy’s final works, “Sonate” for flute, viola, and harp, considered a ground-breaking contemporary classic.

The event is free to the public.

These events are part of Ebb & Flow Art’s annual, multi-day, multi-site, “North South East West Festival 2013.”

Additional events are planned for July 13, when there will be a violin and piano performance, and on August 10, which brings chamber music from San Francisco. August 31 expect two events on neighboring islands with “Music of the Spheres” at the Imiola Astronomy Center in Hilo and on November 23, Hawaii composers will be featured at a special show in Honolulu.

Ebb & Flow Arts, Inc. (E&FA) is a nonprofit presenter of modern music and multi media events. It aims to build bridges between the arts and connect artistic expressions and cultures. E&FA creates a global sound board and mirror for music and art in Hawai’i.