Noise à Noise proudly presents “Politics-Aesthetics II: Beckett's Quad Variations” by Ehsan Saboohi. This is the second collection among a trilogy of albums with similar titles and numbers in sequence. Similar to a few more collections that were produced in parallel, this album was developed in an ongoing composition process, too. Each of the pieces gradually appeared on Bandcamp on a weekly basis during the pre-order period, and is no longer pending release.

This collection is twenty-four variations of ‘Quad’, a Television play by Samuel Beckett (1981). A piece for four players, lights and percussion. Each part comes with a YouTube-video link, to provide the listener with the actual/ visual representation of the players and sounds. Sounds find their ways throughout the performance according to its script.

Beckett's Quad Variations was first put on pre-order during the winter in 2023 and is now released on the last days of April.
*This Album is Released.


Videos for each of the pieces can be found in this playlist:

www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFRUt8drd64T-2HxmA_Sftck34uN-WvO_

Below find a portion of instructions for the play:
:
‘....Four types of percussion, say drum, gong, triangle, wood block. Each player has his particular percussion, to sound when he enters, continue while he paces, cease when he exits…..”.

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Work Statement
Great French thinker Alain Badiou writes in appreciation of Beckett (Playwright and Philosopher) in a book titled ‘On Beckett’:
“We can receive lessons on measurement, accuracy and courage from Beckett”.
This collection includes twenty four variations from one of Beckett’s plays (the ‘Quad’). In each of the variations, sounds find their ways based on the text of the play.

At the end of this statement, let me confess - although it may be unlikely to do according to the general rules of the academy. Confess to a dream. Protest to a place-and-time in which the political-aesthetic event has the opportunity to find its subjectivity.
Hoping for a day that the four bodies can dance to this series of composition - freely, regardless of their race, religion, gender and other vacant bonds.

Dance of freedom of the free bodies in the main square of the city.
I finally offer and dedicate this composition series with the highest respect to the people of Iran. People who have been waiting ages in the darkness for Goddot.


استیتمنت اثر:
آلن بدیو متفکر بزرگ فرانسوی در ستایش از ساموئل بکت (نمایش‌نامه نویس و فیلسوف) در کتاب درباره‌ی بکت می‌نویسد؛
" از بکت می‌شود درس اندازه‌گیری، دقت و شجاعت گرفت"
این مجموعه بیست و چهار واریاسیون‌ از نمایش‌نامه‌ی چهار ضلعی اثر ساموئل بکت است.
در هر واریاسیون چهار صدا بر اساس متن نمایش‌نامه مسیر خود را طی ‌می‌کنند.
اجازه دهید در پایان این استیتمنت هر چند خلاف قوانین رایج آکادمیک است! اما اعتراف کنم. اعتراف به یک رویا. اعتراف به مکان-زمانی که در رخداد پالتیک-استتیک امکان سوژه‌گی خود را می‌یابد.
به امید روزی که چهار بدن رها، فارغ از نژاد، مذهب، جنسیت و هر قرارداد تهی شده، آزادانه با این مجموعه برقصند.
رقص رهائی بدن‌های آزاد در میدان اصلی شهر.
این مجموعه را در نهایت احترام تقدیم می‌کم به مردم کشورم ایران. مردمی که قرن‌هاست در تاریکی به انتظار گودو هستند.

Composer’s Note:

In the final stages for the composition and production for the first edition of ‘Beckett’s Quad Variations’ collection, I find it essential to say thanks to my dear friend Soheil Soheil.

I hope that I can bring to the stage the second edition of this collection someday, not very far, and around the squares of the cities in Iran, with the people whom I passionately love.

I want to honestly confess that these symbolic circles were conjunctions in my mind, that helped me picture such a glorious day;

When bodies are dancing In the city squares.

O, the drummer! Hit on the drums of freedom!
Strike fearlessly!
Strike happily!
Strike joyfully!
O, the drummer! Strike the drums of freedom with echos!

-Ehsan Saboohi,
February 4th, 2023.
.
یادداشت آهنگساز

در پایان جلد نخست مجموعه‌ی "واریاسیون‌های مربعی بکت" لازم می‌دانم از ناشر مجموعه دوست عزیز سهیل سهیلی تشکر ‌کنم.
امیدوارم جلد دوم این مجموعه را روزی نه چندان دور در میدان‌های شهرها‌ی ایران عزیز با همراهی مردمی که عاشقانه‌ دوست‌شان دارم به روی صحنه ببرم.
صادقانه اعتراف کنم که هنگام آهنگسازی، این دایره‌های رنگینِ نُمادین، در خیال و ذهن حلقه‌ی اتصالی بود برای تصور و تصویر چونین روز با شکوهی؛
در میدان‌های شهر
بدن‌های رها می‌رقصند.
های طبال! طنین‌افکن بکوب بر طبل آزادی!
بکوب بی‌پروا!
بکوب سرخوش!
بکوب سرمست!
های طبال! طنین‌افکن بکوب بر طبل آزادی!

-احسان صبوحی، ۱۵ بهمن ۱۴۰۱