Both Treader (2009) and Release (2002/2009) belong to a series of works that draw on the ‘noise-valve’ technique developed by Robin Hayward, in which the piston valves of the tuba are rotated, rather than depressed, in order to produce noise. The gradual rotation of the other valves leads to micro-variations in timbre as the same impulse passes through different acoustic spaces. Whereas Treader utilizes the technique to create percussive sounds, Release filters turbulent air within the tuba, adding an extra layer of material upon each repetition of the initial structure, resulting in a work that is an acoustic version of tape overdubbing.

The actual sounds of the cruise ship depicted in Trotzki’s photo essay provided both the inspiration and the musical material for Hayward’s Barge which was composed especially for ITINERANT INTERLUDE #10. In this work, Hayward utilized field recordings of the ocean liner on view in the exhibition as a background track with the tuba playing a radically slowed version of the repetitive signature melody that appears in the audio recording.

The evening’s musical performances counterpointed a conversation between artist Mitya Trotzki and curator Anatoly Shuralev and readings from “A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again”, American writer David Foster Wallace’s very personal deconstruction of the luxury cruise experience which he originally wrote for Harper’s magazine in 1995.

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