Beneath

As many musical and literary critics have observed, James Joyce's 'The Dead' is not only one of Joyce's most musical works, but it is in fact an allegory concerning music itself - or more completely, the relationship between music and language. The two central characters, Gabriel and Greta, are emblematic of these elements.
Gabriel is 'logocentric': he makes his living in the academy, he writes reviews for the paper, and he spends his leisure time polishing his languages while touring the continent. Gabriel has little patience for, or insight into, music. His speech easily distracts him while listening to his niece's piano performance, and when the dinner-table conversation turns to music and musicians Gabriel becomes silent. Greta, on the other hand, is extremely sensitive to musical expressions. Despite the fact that Bartell D'Arcy's performance of "The Lass of Aughrim" is of an inferior quality - D'Arcy is hoarse and unsure of the words -this music transports Greta into the past and the emotional intensity of her attachment to Michael Furey.

Development Co-devisor/Performers: Joanna Dudley and Juan Kruz Diaz de Garaio Esnaola
Dramaturgy and Direction: Douglas Horton
Sonic Text: Joanna Dudley, in collaboration with artistic team
Verbal Text: Douglas Horton after 'The Dead' by James Joyce, in collaboration with artistic team
Design and Video: Rufus Didwizus, in collaboration with artistic team
Musiturgy: Brett Kelly, in collaboration with artistic team