Show 811: The Death of Kodak (Resonance FM)

“Kabuk Kebuk Kibuk Kobuk Kubuk Kabok Kebok Kibok Kobok Kubok Kabik Kebik Kibik Kobik Kubik Kabek Kebek Kibek Kobek Kubek Kabak Kebak Kibak Kobak Kubak Kacuk Kecuk Kicuk Kocuk Kucuk Kacok Kecok Kicok Kocok Kucok Kacik Kecik Kicik Kocik Kucik Kacek Kecek Kicek Kocek Kucek Kacak Kecak Kicak Kocak Kucak Kaduk Keduk Kiduk Koduk Kuduk Kadok Kedok Kidok Kodok Kudok Kadik Kedik Kidik Kodik Kudik Kadek Kedek Kidek Kodek Kudek Kadak Kedak Kidak —–
Em’ree! Emeral’… Emerald!…“

One from the vaults this time. The Resonance Radio Orchestra realised this acoustmatic radio opera, The Death of Kodak, as part of rough for opera on Tuesday 3 November 2015 at 7.30pm at The Cockpit Theatre, London. The line up comprised Rodney Earl Clarke (pictured): voice (as Rochester, New York); Richard Scott: voice (as Eastman Kodak); Louise Goodwin: percussion; the late Simon King: electric guitar; Elo Masing: amplified violin; Markus Sasse: bass guitar; Milo Thesiger-Meacham: electric guitar; and Chris Weaver: electronics. Ed Baxter provided concept, text (see above) and direction. Piers Gibbon did the voice over. The graphic score was flashed onto the retinas of the players in a completely dark space, bringing the score inside the human body for the first time – the only radical development in the score for the last half century. The text comprises (a) all the variations which led Eastman to select the till then meaningless word “Kodak”; and (b) a fragment from the lyrics of Blind Willie McTell’s eccentric love song, Travelin’ Blues. The performance was realised in acousmatic fashion, in total darkness, though a few luminous yellow ropes hung from the rafters to define the space for the live audience.