A View From Within
words: Raquel Pinheiro; photos: Renato Cruz Santos/Cultura em ExpansÃŖo
A week ago me and my colleagues from Grupo OperÃĄrio do RuÃdo, a parte experimental-exploratory-avant ensemble connect to Sonoscopia were in the depths of our Open Rehearsal, after months of hours long reharsals.
Being part of the group has been a very interesting experience. I elected the electric guitar as my main instrument, in itself a challenge. I’m far more familiar with an electric bass than with an electric guitar. Most of my other instruments are as peculiar and unique as Grupo OperÃĄrio do RuÃdo: a couple of plastic beads necklaces, a children’s melodica, mismatched drum sticks, empty spices bottles, and more, and our claribones, what I call our odd purpose build mix of trombone and clarinet.
Many instruments we use were build on previous years of the existence of Grupo OperÃĄrio do RuÃdo, some like my guitar, the traditional drums, the tambourine are convencional. My use of the electric guitar is anything but convencional. We’re often asked what we do, what we play. We’re still working on the musical piece directed by AntÃŗnio Serginho and Carlos Guerreiro, to which we all contribute.
I would say we’re much close to an orchestra than a rock band. The musical, sound, and other approaches are wide. As you can see on the photos we do not use staves. There are structured rhythm parts, solo and free style parts, corporal movement, a bit of singing. Each of us, one more than others depending of what we play, swap our instruments, according to the section we’re playing.
None of the above explains much other than a little of the mechanics of this year in Grupo OperÃĄrio do RuÃdo. It’s not easy to explain as it is a sound experience composed of a million details.
I’ve been asked if I felt nervous playing in front of an audience. I didn’t. I didn’t even notice the audience that surrounded us. We’re concentrated on what we’re playing as well as in the hand instructions of AntÃŗnio Serginho tailor made for us, and therefore different than standard conductor instructions.
No, I’m not letting our music out. đ Not right now. đ We sound brilliant!
We have our Final Presentation at ConservatÃŗrio de MÃēsica do Porto, December 8, 7pm. Come see us!
Mondo Bizarre Magazine 