Listening Log – [Pt. III]- Jasmin Kent Rodgman – ‘Idol Lost’ (2018)

LISTENING LOG

Jasmin Kent Rodgman – ‘Idol Lost’ (2018) In February 2020 Listened (streaming) to youtube: ‘Jasmin Kent Rodgman – ‘Idol Lost’ (2018). Conductors: George Jackson (Conductor). Performer: Bass Clarinet: Oliver Pashley Flute: Pasha Mansurov Percussion: Paul Stoneman Dance: Hemabharathy Palani Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Performed live at the Jerwood Composer+ concert at LSO St. Luke’s on 6th October 2018, curated by Jasmin Kent Rodgman. (Additional music in video: Serenade in E minor Op. 20: II. Larghetto. Licensed to WMG; Public Domain Compositions. Performed by; London Philharmonic Orchestra/Peter Manning/Vernon Handley.) Event information: https://lso.co.uk/whats-on/icalrepeat.detail/2018/03/17/1240/-/huh-jerwood-composer-showcase.html . Jasmin Kent Rogman website: https://www.jkr-music.com/

Jasmin Kent Rodgman’s ‘Idol Lost’ starts with a solo tambourine beating out a jaunty slow rhythm. Sampled traffic and atmosphere noises follow, quickly joined by a heavily affected and breathy flute. Subtle percussion and cymbal/gong rolls start simmering under the flute as a video projection of an Indian dancer are shown. The percussion becomes more prominent, marking accents in a free time. A bass clarinet is heard playing a low drone. The percussion becomes even more animated and tremolos on the larger drums (timpani and toms) whilst a very slow and long cymbals splash reverberates The bass clarinet starts playing a more melodic figure, with flowing long notes. The flute comes back in, playing quick undulating quavers in it’s mid register. The whole ensemble then plays as the dancer in the video projection is getting more and more animated. At the climax of this section sampled and heavily effected voices come in. The next part is started with a repetitive and tribal sounding tom tom solo. The flute accompanies the toms after about a minute, playing figures which sound like little brief echoes. The overall impression of the piece is very cinematic, modern and in places even quite avant-garde. I think the piece fits perfectly with the short film and is the perfect blend of ideas somewhat ‘familiar’ and new surprising moments. It is a forward thinking piece, but a very melodic one and thus very pleasing to the ear. I really really love it and I think Jasmin has written something very ‘new’ which is also still very musical.

This is how this production and composition is decribed on Jasmin’s website:

‘… She travelled to Bangalore to direct idol lost, a dance film featuring Indian contemporary dancer Hemabharathy Palani (2018 Rambert Fellow), filmed to accompany her LSO commission by the same name.’