songs for sophie

(français)

Sophie Stryjenska (1983-2009)

Most of us have met Sophie around 2004-2006 at Cave12, a place she helped grow into the environment we have known and loved. Her incomparable presence, delicacy and sharp wit deeply touched and inspired those who spent time by her side, a feeling that prevailed among so many musicians and sound artists that a tribute in sound quickly imposed itself.

So here it is, eleven pieces in fond memory of our dear friend.

1. Alfredo Costa Monteiro

   9:45

   Limbes d'ambre (9:45)

   Alfredo Costa Monteiro: Accordion, electronics, voice
2. Thomas Schunke

   7:21

   Vis ta vie/So wie Sophie Part 1 + 3 (7:21)

   ""Vis ta vie/So wie Sophie Part 1 + 3" is a remix in two parts of an improvisation on the theme of "A love supreme" by John Coltrane with Vincent Bertholet on double bass, Karl Hoffmann on monophonic synthesizer and myself on Hammond organ.
   The improvisation was crudely recorded during rehearsals for a Carte Blanche at the old Cave12 in 2004.

   I remember that Sophie was part of the team at the bar that evening, seeming detached yet very involved. It is this elegant and appeasing attitude that I always loved in contrast with the often wild atmosphere of the old Cave12.

   "Vis ta vie/So wie Sophie (comme Sophie)" is dedicated to Sophie, in memory of the way she lived and the way she illuminated those who surrounded her. From the beginning each life is a survival and each life some day becomes a remembrance that comes back and affects those who are still alive. This is how I understand life after death. This presence of the absence of one we once knew, appreciated, loved is the testimony of its influence on our present.

   Thomas Schunke, December 2009
3. Music for the Space

   2:35

   Dream for Sophie (2:35)
4. Marion Innocenzi

   5:22

   "The Stranger Song" (d'après Leonard Cohen) (5:22)

   I would like to thank Vincent Hänni with whom I shared some time on this project.

   Marion Innocenzi: voice, environment sounds, effects, mix
5. Vincent de Roguin

   12:18

   Trois oscillateurs et un magnétophone (pour Sophie) (12:18)

   Geneva, 2010
6. Anonymous

   16:18

   Untangled (16:18)

   Geneva, 2010
7. Zbigniew Karkowski

   11:53

   Eristic (11:53)
8. Gianluca Ruggeri & Manuel Schmalstieg

   3:13

   Minuetto (3:13)

   Laptop and inside-piano.

   An attempt to reenact an inside-piano and laptop improvisation, originally performed on a late new years'eve night at Rue des Falaises, in the presence of Sophie.

   Geneva, July 2010
9. Blanktapes

   0:53

   12.06.2010 (0:53)

   A magnetic tape recording (original music by Mozart) is being pulled in the air by helium balloons during a neighbourhood street festival.

   At the end of the recording one can hear the audio cassette being pulled out of the portable tape player and hovering in the air.

   Bruno Crochet, Yves Levasseur, Benjamin Novello
10. Anonymous

    2:53

    Maladie qui nous unit (2:53)

    Based on a song by Jean-Louis Costes
11. Johann Joachim Quantz

    2:53

    Konzert e-moll für Flöte, Streicher und Basso continuo, 2.Teil (2:53)

    On behalf of Alain Berset