Kublai speaks

Programme note Kublai spreekt (Kublai speaks) was written for a story telling programme of flautist Margreet Niks, in which stories from Italo Calvino’s book Invisible Cities provided the backbone and also the title of the performance. Arnold Marinissen provided part of the music for Invisible Cities; Kublai spreekt was written for the occasion. It is a short song for four male voices: two tenors, a baritone and a low bass. The baritone delivers the text, taken from Calvino’s book, in Dutch translation. The other three provide a groovy and warm accompaniment. In the fragment that is used, Kublai Khan (1215-1294), Mongolian military leader and Chinese emperor, asks his advisor Marco Polo (c. 1254-1324) why, after his long and far travels, he comes to him and only tells him stories that seem to spring from his imagination, or that are perhaps memories from the past... Jij keert terug uit landen die zover weg zijn en alles wat je mij vertellen kunt dat zijn slechts gedachten die opkomen bij wie ’s nachts in de koelte op de drempel van zijn huis zit. Mijn blik is als die van een man in gedachten, verdiept in meditatie, ja dat geef ik toe, maar de jouwe? Jij doorkruist bergketens, archipels, toendra’s. Jij kunt hier dus ook wel blijven. Ga jij vooruit, je hoofd steeds gewend naar achteren? En ligt dat wat je ziet slechts in voorbije tijden? Dus speelt jouw reis zich nu alleen af in het verleden, dus, alleen in het verleden? (from Italo Calvino – Invisible Cities, Dutch translation by Henny Vlot) Performance instructions Kublai spreekt is to be sung in a groovy manner, non vibrato, closer to pop than to classical singing. The three accompanimental voices, singing doo doo doo etc. exclusively, should take care that the text of the baritone can be effortlessly understood. The piece can be transposed up or down, if this suits the range of the four singers better. (In the original version, performed and recorded by the composer, all four parts were sung a minor third down.)