Six percussionists striking a wooden beam for an hour might not sound like a brilliant idea—but that’s only if you haven’t heard Timber by Michael Gordon. Helena Basilova, guest curator of the Festival Dag in de Branding, was enchanted when she first encountered this modern classic. Timber was the first piece Basilova selected for this edition, and it became the reason why “wood” was chosen as the festival’s theme.
The performance is, of course, in the hands of HIIIT, for whom Gordon composed the piece in 2009 (back when they were still known as Slagwerk Den Haag). In the early years, HIIIT held exclusive rights to perform it. Since then, nearly every percussion group has taken on the piece, and it has become an undisputed classic in the contemporary percussion repertoire. Due to the complexity of its shifting tempos and rhythms, many ensembles perform Timber with a click track. HIIIT, however, does not—giving their interpretations a sense of organic elasticity.
Michael Gordon, co-founder of the New York collective Bang on a Can, is known for his radical projects, often influenced by underground rock. Following the success of Timber, he composed several more “monochrome” pieces for ensembles of bassoons, cellos, and electric guitars. Timber is the origin story in this series: a meditation on sound and rhythm that elevates the physical power, endurance, and technique of the percussionists to a new level. Gordon himself envisioned the piece as a journey through the desert.
The CD recording of Timber made by HIIIT in 2011 is divided into five parts, but in reality, the piece forms a single, unified whole. Through their intense interplay, the musicians seem to transform into one body, and the energy of swelling and fading rolls, along with complex rhythms, creates an almost hallucinatory effect. The piece is performed on so-called simantras—instruments made of hardwood that resemble simple beams but possess a unique resonance. Composer Iannis Xenakis developed the simantra in its current form, though it is an archaic instrument with deep roots in Orthodox church traditions and Greek culture.
HIIIT member Frank Wienk, who has performed Timber countless times, points out that the wood distinctly produces two tones: the fundamental tone and an overtone, which often sounds even louder. “When you hear Timber live, those overtones eventually start to resonate. It almost sounds like the ringing of bells,” says Wienk.
After the concert, we’ll travel by bus to the next location, the Nieuwe Kerk. Makers-in-residence Ensemble Sketch351 will perform on the bus.
Please note: the bus is only for pass holders.