Casiokids and Kerry Yong, 'Cover We Casio Kids'

Casiokids and Kerry Yong, 'Cover We Casio Kids'

Time – Thursday 22:30
Venue – Landmark

New project!

Omar Johnsen (Casiokids) interviews Kerry Yong: 

Q How did you come to use Casio keyboards in contemporary music settings?

A  It came slightly by accident and is still quite a new project: I was booked to play in a new series called Kämmer Klang in East London that experiments with performing ‘serious’ new music in different settings – like bars.  The venue had a piano there on the day the organiser visited it.  But then the piano disappeared – the venue hadn’t made it clear that it wasn’t always there. Rather than withdraw, I thought of a crazy substitute. Although these works were originally for piano with electronics, Aitsi by Scelsi also existed as a string quartet and I always wondered if it could work on electric guitars. And Stockhausen’s Klavierstuck XVI allows for the inclusion of electronic synthesizers and samplers. At the same time, a friend had lent me his Casio keyboard (an MT-210), which we were using to make lo-fi retro-sounding music at church. So the experiment of retro-adapting works for an 80s Casiotone began: the project COVER ME CASIO was born.

 

Q What do think about Walter/Wendy Carlos (with the use of Moog synthesizers on "Switched on Bach") or other people performing or recording music from the classical world with so called non-traditional instruments?
A I have a generally positive view of adapting music for new forces. I LOVE the Wendy Carlos’s Switched on Bach: they bring out aspects of the music that are killed by a certain seriousness and preciousness in classical performance.  And the thing is, great performances of Bach will still continue – it’s very robust music and the diversity is refreshing and illuminating.  As for performing or adapting music that isn’t your mother-tongue – I see great value in it: sometimes it will work, sometimes it won’t.  But it’s worth giving it a go.  And even if the result has a somewhat limited shelf-life, you still learn and experience something new from both musics.  And it’s a kind of dare too – the risk is actually quite fun!

 

Q What are are the reactions like to your casio-oriented performances?
A  It certainly depends who you ask. So far, I’ve been fortunate enough to receive only positive reactions, a few baffled but curious ones, but mostly very enthusiastic. However, I did receive one negative reaction to the performance of one work: that it was ‘totally wrong’.  I try to take this in the best possible light…

 

Q I know you are familiar with the Bergen-based composer Knut Vaage.  What fascinates you about his work?
A Knut Vaage has an excellent imagination for colour and drama.  The Electra pieces (which I will newly adapt for the Festival) have a wonderful palette of colour, noise and space, and a great sense for pacing and action.

 

Q Which Casio sound (preset) is your favourite?

A But there are twenty delightful ones to choose from – not including the beats and accompaniments!  I’ll try to name my top four: vibraphone, ‘funny’, synth guitar and jazz organ. But I want to include more!

  Friday
Tid Artist Type event Sted Billettpris
20:00 Luke Fowler Exhibition Bergen Kunsthall
  Sunday
Tid Artist Type event Sted Billettpris
18:00 Concert/performance Griegakademiet Prøvesalen
20:00 Concert/performance Altona wine bar, Augustin Hotel
  Tuesday
Tid Artist Type event Sted Billettpris
Theme Tune,Theme Tune
13:00 Film - Kino Borealis Landmark
15:30 Gerhard Eckel Exhibition Rom 8
17:00 Mette Karlsvik Bergen Offentlige Bibliotek
18:00 Gerhard Stäbler Admiral Hotel / Bryggen
19:00 Else Olsen Storesund Concert/performance Bergen Pianoforretning
19:30 Exhibition Bergen Pianoforretning
20:00 Sigurd Fischer Olsen,Ricardo Odriozola & Friends,Siegfried Kutterer Concert/performance Kalmarhuset leiligheter
20:00 Ricardo Odriozola & Friends See below,Logen,Landmark,USF Verftet,Salhus Tricotagefabrik
21:00
22:00 Thomas Ankersmit,Phill Niblock Concert/performance Landmark
  Wednesday
Tid Artist Type event Sted Billettpris
Øyvind Skarbø,Tor Kristian Liseth,Jennifer Walshe Concert/performance,Film - Kino Borealis See below,Salhus Tricotagefabrik,Rådhuset,Landmark
Siegfried Kutterer,Domenico Melchiorre,Szilard Buti DNB Lars Hillesgate 30,Salhus Tricotagefabrik
13:00 Film - Kino Borealis Landmark
15:30 David Helbich,Gerhard Eckel Rom 8
17:00 Kjersti Rorgemoen Bergen Offentlige Bibliotek
18:30 GNEIS,Rolf Borch,Knut Vaage,Ricardo Odriozola & Friends,Kunsu Shim,Gerhard Stäbler Salhus Tricotagefabrik
20:00 Ricardo Odriozola & Friends See below,Logen,Landmark,USF Verftet,Salhus Tricotagefabrik
21:00
  Thursday
Tid Artist Type event Sted Billettpris
Siegfried Kutterer,Domenico Melchiorre,Szilard Buti DNB Lars Hillesgate 30,Salhus Tricotagefabrik
13:00 Film - Kino Borealis Landmark
17:00 Erlend O. Nødtvedt Bergen Offentlige Bibliotek
18:00 John Tilbury Bergen Kunsthall,Landmark
19:30 Apartment House,Kunsu Shim,Gerhard Stäbler Kunstmuseum, Stenersen
20:00 Ricardo Odriozola & Friends See below,Logen,Landmark,USF Verftet,Salhus Tricotagefabrik
20:30 Knut Vaage,Casiokids,Kerry Yong Kunstmuseum, Stenersen
21:00
22:30 Casiokids,Kerry Yong Landmark
23:30 Idiot Switch Concert/performance Landmark
  Friday
Tid Artist Type event Sted Billettpris
11:30 Fidan Aghayeva,Mai Goto,Chihiro Ito,Annabel Guaita,Steve Reich,Gilius van Bergeijk,Post & Mulder Bergen Pianoforretning
13:00 Film - Kino Borealis Landmark
15:30 Anders Førisdal,Laurence Crane,Gerhard Eckel Rom 8 Free entrance
17:00 Øyvind Rimbereid Bergen Offentlige Bibliotek
17:45 Else Olsen Storesund Bergen Pianoforretning Free entrance
18:00 John Tilbury,Michael Duch Bergen Pianoforretning 80/60
19:30 Logos Foundation Exhibition Logen
20:00 BIT20 Percussion,Anders Førisdal,Apartment House,Szilard Buti,Domenico Melchiorre,Siegfried Kutterer,Kunsu Shim,Robyn Schulkowsky Concert/performance Logen
20:00 Ricardo Odriozola & Friends See below,Logen,Landmark,USF Verftet,Salhus Tricotagefabrik
21:00
23:00 Magda Mayas & Tony Buck Logen
24:00 Trondheim Jazzorkester,Kim Myhr Concert/performance Logen
  Saturday
Tid Artist Type event Sted Billettpris
Øyvind Skarbø,Tor Kristian Liseth,Jennifer Walshe Concert/performance,Film - Kino Borealis See below,Salhus Tricotagefabrik,Rådhuset,Landmark
12:00 Exhibition Bergen Offentlige Bibliotek
13:00 Bergen Offentlige Bibliotek Free entrance
15:00 Collegiûm Mûsicûm,Gerhard Stäbler,Kunsu Shim 180/150
15:00 Knut Vaage Concert/performance 180/150
20:00 Ricardo Odriozola & Friends See below,Logen,Landmark,USF Verftet,Salhus Tricotagefabrik
22:00 The Chap Landmark
22:00 DYGONG Concert/performance Landmark
23:00 The Chap Concert/performance Landmark
24:00 Landmark