[Text available only in English] This AV Performance is the outcome of the self-funded research documentary “The Naxian Quest”, which narrates a story about the tsampouna that is a greek traditional bagpipe with a rich history and nowadays is considered endangered cultural heritage. Georgios Tsampounaris, whose surname means "tsampouna player," embarked on a journey to become a true tsampouna player and conducted research about the instrument's cultural heritage and his roots from Naxos island. In "The Naxian Quest," Daniela Poschauko documented Georgios' search for locals and experts who have passed down the art of tsampouna crafting and playing, mostly orally, and provide insight into the traditions regarding the tsampouna in the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. The project focuses on three timelines of the tsampouna: the past, present, and future.
70% Water has been exploring the new possibilities of the tsampouna by translating its analog signal to digital and experimenting with electrically enhanced sound through DAW software and triggering visuals and also mixing it with electronic and avantgarde/punk music genres.
As a conclusion of this research, and focusing in the future, we decided to name this performance Volkotronica (Volksmusik in German + Electronica in English).
In hundreds of years from now, all the currently modern music such as Techno, DnB, punk etc will most probably be considered Folk music.
In this 20-minute performance 70% Water shows a glimpse of how this could possibly look and sound like, combined with the current folk music and elements of Cycladic cultural heritage. Conceptually there are three acts that are distinctive as three different visual scenes accompanied by different music tracks that will be mixed live. The visuals are also real-time rendered and react according to the signals of the live mix and the playing of the Tsampouna. The video captures may be a little bit different from the live sessions, because every session is technically unique since audiovisual reactive event is produced algorithmically live.
The structure of the performance is the following:
ACT I - Kourotechno: Introduction to Volkotronica that is initiated by a Kouros statue in a techno dionysian ritual that affects a swarm
of ragdolls on a mediterranean seascape. Duration approximately 5-7’.
ACT II - PnB [Portara'n'Bass]: This act features the mix of island folk music (Nisiotika) with Drum ‘n’ Bass that transforms the temple of Apollo into an audiovisual altar. Duration approximately 5-7’.
ACT III - Tsampounorgy: Last act features the presence of the actual tsampouna instrument being played live and triggering an dionysian orgy of ragdolls around a depiction of the characteristics of a cycladic island landscape. Rocks, Prickle Pears, Sea, Goats. Duration approximately 10-12'.
