The real stars of the film are two locomotives, one of which is named “The General”, and these two steam engines provide the probably longest and most exciting chase sequence in the entire history of the cinema. This cinematic motion classic will be screened at the KunstFestSpiele Herrenhausen for the very first time in conjunction with a musical work with a number of common factors with the film: Terry Riley’s “In C”. The composer leaves the performers to determine the duration of this piece and Stephan Meier and his ensemble are therefore free to adapt the work perfectly to the length of the film. According to their own selection, the instrumentalists progress through around 50 different patterns throughout this work, all focused around the note C. This produces an iridescent and hypnotic skein of motoric sounds which give the simultaneous impression of standing in one place and moving forward with incredible velocity.
The General. USA 1926. Directors: Buster Keaton, Clyde Bruckman / Terry Riley: In C (1964)
Ensemble S / Das Neue Ensemble
FLUTE Brigitte Sauer
CLARINET, SAXOPHONE Udo Grimm
ELECTRONIC SOUNDS Sebastian Wendt
PERCUSSION Stephan Meier, André Wittmann, Adam Weisman
VIOLIN Josje ter Haar
VIOLONCELLO Reynard Rott
MUSICAL DIRECTION Stephan Meier)
DURATION 79 minutes / without an interval
A production by the KunstFestSpiele Herrenhausen