Improving the practice and performance of contemporary music

Physical difficulties

Avoiding pain

For Mani. Δίκη, the playing techniques that are described above are not as extreme for joints, skin and hands as in the other pieces. The only inconveniences I suffered from while practising this piece was that the metal-on-metal contact sometimes is so hard and repetitive that it starts to hurt in muscles and joints. Therefor one should avoid too long practice sessions and immediately stop practising or playing when pain occurs. Also watch out while setting up: the self-made plate bells can have very sharp corners and weigh quite heavy, as does the Thai gong. Make sure you don’t cut yourself or hurt your back when setting up.

Independence of voice and hands

All of Billone’s pieces are very long – at about 28 minutes long, Mani. Δικη is the longest solo in the Billone solo percussion repertoire - and the musical material is so different from what we are accustomed to, that it is difficult to plan a musical tactic for these pieces. In a way, the music is very expressive and gestural, what made me choose an intuitive approach: not really shaping or phrasing, just seeing what comes next. Using this tactic, you can also achieve his demand of moving from one movement of the piece into another without connection, as a total surprise.