David Evan Jones

Violin, Cello, Fixed Media (audio)

Composer's Note:

Gezi Park (2015) is the most recent in a series of compositions that present computer-processed audio recordings representing actual news events in combination with instruments performing live. These pieces transform reports and representations of some of the difficult news of our day and bring these into the contemplative frame of the concert hall.

Gezi Park was originally conceived as a composition for kemençe (a Turkish vertical 'violin') and cello. The instrumentation was changed to violin and 'cello when my Turkish collaborators became uneasy about the politics of performing such a piece in Turkey. While the piece was thoroughly reconceived for the final instrumentation, some of the original spirit and many textural details of the original kemençe writing carry over into the current version. Gezi Park is the most recent in a series of compositions that present computer-processed audio recordings representing actual news events.

The piece is performed in three continuous movements: Prologue, Narrative (in two parts), and Reflection. The Prologue is delivered entirely by the violin and 'cello. The instruments continue their commentary throughout the two-part Narrative which incorporates the recorded voices and chants of Turkish citizens involved in the Gezi Park demonstrations. The focus returns to the violin and 'cello in the final Reflection.

Deep thanks to those who posted audio (and video) of these demonstrations to under names such as: Ozcan Tekdemir, Gezi Doc, Fatih Akalin, Brandon Jourdan, Glenn Campbell, and others. Brief excerpts of each source were edited and micro-processed by the composer for inclusion in this piece. Many thanks to Kenan Behzat Sharpe who translated the spoken/shouted words and provided expert cultural context for their interpretation.