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New Ballet for Xala

by Ania Losinger / Don Li

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1.
Ballet I 03:44
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2.
Ballet II 04:29
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3.
Ballet III 07:01
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4.
Ballet IV 04:59
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5.
Ballet V 03:25
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6.
Ballet VI 02:49
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7.
Ballet VII 03:25
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8.
Ballet VIII 06:25
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9.
Ballet IX 03:39
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10.
Ballet X 03:10
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11.
Ballet XI 03:23
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12.
Ballet XII 02:02
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13.
Ballet XIII 03:18
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14.
Ballet XIV 05:44
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about

Ania Losinger – xala

Tonus String Quartet:
Katryn Hasler – violin, Simon Heggendorn – violin, David Schneebeli – viola, Carlo Niederhauser – cello

Just as in the 16th century, a scenic dance performance accompanied by music that was specifically composed for or chosen for this purpose would be called a ballet, the "New Ballet For Xala" features a suite-like program made up of seven TONUS-MUSIC parts that have been formulated for Xala. Because of the tonal restrictions of this instrument, Don Li concentrated on the quality of the rhythmic structure and a homogenous sounding orchestration. In this sense, the string quartet and computer sounds not only enhance Ania Losinger's playing poles and shoes, but, at the same time, accentuate the underlying acoustical elements that are produced by the wood and metal of the Xala.

XALA
Xala is the first floor-xylophone in the world. This unique instrument was created in 1998/99 by dancer and music performer Ania Losinger in cooperation with inventor and instrument designer Hamper von Niederhäusern. Composed of 24 chiming wooden and metal bars, with a total area of 4.5 square meters and a weight of 400 kilograms, this acoustic instrument is played using Flamenco shoes and 6ft.high staffs. While dancing the choreographed arrangement of the repetitive, rhythmical compositions, the body of the performer seems to become weightless. At the same time, the play between bodyweight and equilibrium on the vibrating sounds of the Xala creates a unique phrasing of the musical structure. The complex technical transformation of a simple idea, that of making music by dancing, is what brought the Xala into being. It builds a bridge between acoustic and visual expression, between archaic and modern sound, and opens up new spaces in the realm of artistic expression.

credits

released January 1, 2004

Total time 58.00

Composed, arranged and produced by Don Li
Executive produced by Ania Losinger, Roland Aeschbacher, Don Li

Programmed, recorded, edited by Don Li
Recorded, mixed at Orbital Garden Bern by Hanspeter Ehrsam
Mastered by Walter Rohrbach
Cover art by Benjamin Pfäffli
Photo by Martin Möll
Video by Pierre-Yves Borgeaud

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Ania Losinger Rumisberg, Switzerland

anialosinger.com

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