Under Construction Journal Issue 6.1 UNDER CONSTRUCTION JOURNAL 6.1 | Page 17

decks, scratching, beat-juggling and cross-fading, determined to be heard. Sampled brass stabs force their
way back up through the thick musical surface. The orchestra finally relents, and a turntable sequence of
slow phase-shifting brings the second movement to a distorted halt. The symphony orchestra
momentarily unleashed its full potential, reclaimed the house, and perhaps on this occasion overwhelmed
the new-boy. Quietly, the turntables prepare for the third movement.
Largo Pesante - Allegro, 'Malmo'
Gradually, it becomes apparent that this traditional 'silent' break in proceedings has been disturbed by
'general chatter from the musicians [...] one yawns loudly [...] another opens a can of drink and exhales
[noisily], [the] conductor clears his throat [and] coughs impatiently.' 15 The Prommers begin to laugh. What
is going on? With the instructions above written into the score, Gabriel Prokofiev has purposefully
contravened classical music's silent ritual. The barrier between artists and audience removed; the
musician's party and the opaque partition between classical and hip-hop clears.
This time the conductor's downbeat begets a tough and rough two-in-a-bar march. En
masse, the orchestra drives the show forward with a heavy hip-hop, largo pesante. Now, perfectly
balanced within the orchestral texture, the DJ manipulates his 'found-sounds' sampled before the
movement began. The coughs, the yawn, exhalations and chatter, along with the crisp snap of the can's
ring pull are scribbled, juggled and shaped into a powerful and ornate rhythmic tour-de-force. The two
parties groove together and a block-party flares up as if the very spirit of DJ Kool Herc had descended
upon proceedings. The movement climaxes with a virtuosic multi-turntable, crossfader and pitch-
controlled beat juggling cadenza: the 'art of remix' in full effect. Upon its conclusion, a now more
comfortable and perchance more appreciative section of the audience applaud this astonishing technical
display; their ovation temporarily drowning out the quiet opening of the fourth movement. With their
spontaneous, unrestrained and disruptive response, this time it is the audience that contravenes tradition.
Andante 'Meditnow'
The fourth movement reveals the turntable's delicate temperament and unexpected melodic capability.
With an audible breathy inhale and low C#, the solo flute begins before being clearly 'shushed' by the
conductor, and laughter again is heard. The DJ captures both the flute's inhalation and C#, along with the
15
Ibid., III: Malmo.
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