Découpé (2016)
(for accordion solo)

Découpé for accordion solo was written for Stefan Hussong and is dedicated to him. The title refers to a technique used in Dadaist literature: a text is cut out and the fragments are recombined to create another text, resulting in new poetic and usually absurd contexts. Similarly, in this composition, excerpts from fictional pieces are strung together and rearranged again and again. Contexts emerge and disappear at breakneck speed and the line between continuity and discontinuity, between repetition and variation is walked again and again. The materials are diverse – the fragments of the imaginary pieces, even if they are arranged with contemporary playing techniques, contain reminiscences of various accordion traditions, such as French folk music and jazz, and thus salvage an examination of the overall history of the instrument, which is closely linked to popular music, dance and the fiesta.

Elena Mendoza