Next Lab   Agenda   Projects   CDs   Gallery   Links   Contact

Projects Messing met PVC "Despite my inner rejection of orientalisms (the trumpet was the bearer of a wedding-gypsy temperament), I found in some of the pieces a magical reference to unsuspectly deep layers, winding through the infinite dwellings of antiquity -- the voice and flute, brought to earth by the trumpet." Natalia Ilieva, Kultura weekly, Sofia, December 9, 2002 Ned McGowan, Gijs Levelt & Martha Mavroidi Messing met PVC is a duo of the co-founders of the Karnatic Lab, flutist Ned McGowan and trumpeter Gijs Levelt. The word 'messing' in Dutch means brass and Ned's contrabass flute is made out of pvc, hence the name. In the repertoire 'Karnatic concepts' are being explored in Balkan-, improvised and contemporary music. Last year Messing met PVC started to play with a different guest each month. In March 2002 the duo invited singer, percussionist and lafta player Martha Mavroidi and it was a great success. Martha is specialised in Bulgarian folk singing, but also studied at the Contemporary Music through Non-Western Techniques Course at the Conservatory of Amsterdam. The pieces performed were both Balkan and Bulgarian in nature but the style was to 'deconstruct' them gradually, bringing in all kinds of other elements from improvisation, jazz, contemporary, and Karnatic music. The first CD of Messing met PVC featuring Martha Mavroidi - Paximadi - was recorded in April 2003 and will be out in Autumn 2003. ‹‹ back