I have been asking myself: is it ever possible to decolonize from within the institutions of the empire? In inscribing subalternity within the language of inherently Eurocentric academia and institutional art, am I not then just complicit to colonialism? I reflect on these questions in the sound performance/composed theatre project Echoing Europe – Postcolonial Reverberations — returning… Continue reading
On 25 October, I will be premiering a new piece, »sonus — the sound within us« at Theater Ballhaus Naunynstraße. For this new project, I am excited to collaborate with Pepe Dayaw (performance artist), Morgan Sully (sound designer), Karlene Denolo-Hayworth (opera singer), Katherina Oliver (opera singer). What is the sound of memory? How do we… Continue reading
Moritz Buchner of the Forum Transregionale Studien interviewed me about my ideas and experience in the creation of »Echoing Europe – Postcolonial Reverberations«. On 16-18 May, you premiered a sound performance entitled “Echoing Europe – Postcolonial Reverberations” at the Theater Ballhaus Naunynstrasse Berlin. Could you tell us the background of the project? Around the same… Continue reading
I was sitting at the Westergasfabriek last night watching the Pelargos Quartet play aboard and to the accompaniment of helicopters juddering over Amsterdam in Stockhausen’s opera, Aus Licht when I received a text message announcing that I won the ASCA 2019 Best Article award! I did not even think I would be nominated! My sincerest… Continue reading
Jamal Tuschick reviewed Echoing Europe – Postcolonial Reverberations on der Freitag. “meLê yamomo zeigt in seinem Soundwerk „Echoing Europe – Postcolonial reverberations“ die europäische Aneignungs- und Kategorisierungsarroganz und ihre wissenschaftlichen Maskierungen im Geist der Traurigen Tropen. Er untersucht die Grenze zwischen „Musik“ und „Geräusch“ als gewaltsame Setzung nicht zuletzt. … Er spielt mit Tonspulen und Grammophontrichtern…. Continue reading
In time for our premiere, music critic Christoph Möller produced a feature on “Echoing Europe – Postcolonial Reverberations” on Deutschlandfunk Kultur. “Was Musik ist, entscheidet nach wie vor der Westen, meint der Musikwissenschaftler und Performer meLê yamomo. In seiner Sound-Performance „Echoing Europe“ will er koloniale Denkmuster in der Musik offenlegen und kritisch hinterfragen.” (The West… Continue reading
On 16 May, I will be premiering a new music theatre/sound performance piece entitled »Echoing Europe – Postcolonial Reverberations«. You can read the dramaturgical notes on the Theater Ballhaus Naunynstrasse website. Tickets are now available on the Berlin Bühnen website. (Up there is a picture at the rehearsal studio.) If you are in Berlin, it… Continue reading
I will be doing a Philippine launch of my book »Sounding Modernities: Theatre and Music in Manila and the Asia Pacific, 1869-1946« on 21 February at the University of the Philippines Diliman-College of Music! As part of the Musikolokya, I will also give a lecture on the nineteenth-century theatre and musical practices in Manila and… Continue reading
In December, I will be participating in the »Permanente Beunruhigung« Performance Festival at Theater Ballhaus Naunynstrasse in Berlin. It’s an unusual format! I’ll be meeting three other artists from other cities across the globe, whom I’ve never met before, and we will have 48 hours to create a performance! This is going to be exciting!
You can read more about the project (and get your tickets) here. And here is the trailer:
I’m excited to announce that my book, »Sounding Modernities: Theatre and Music in Manila and the Asia Pacific, 1869-1946« is now out! I would like to cordially invite you to a small gathering of friends to celebrate the launching of the book. This will take place on 12 October at the University Theatre in Amsterdam… Continue reading