TIMMY
a 5-seconds-piece by Matthias Hettmer [2004]
duration: 5"
[first performed: Kulturbunker Köln / Germany, may 26th 2004]
In the summer 2002, we had the idea of a project. It was the question: Is it possible for a composer to express his musical identity convincingly within an extremely limited duration and with an additional instruction from us? All composers were set the task to write a piece of 5 seconds duration (maximum!) and "as cruel as possible, trash, hardcore, punk" for electrified accordion, electric bass and live electronics, with or without voice, composition, conceptual improvisation, performance, CD-playback. At the same time each of the pieces is more than just a statement, a mere musical fingerprint of the composer - each composition develops its completely individual form and is complete in its’ self.
And it works.
Matthias wrote about his piece:
TIMMY puts the listener in an embarrassing situation, because the musicians play and scream their material in an extremely exaggerated manner. The departure-point hereof are the still uncontrolled physical and vocal reactions of toddlers, as well as behaviour generally deemed as conspicous. The resulting consternated silence on the audience's part consequently belongs to the piece.
[translated by Michael Rook]