The sailor motif runs through both literature and music in different ways and at different times. The evening On sailor men gives a cross-section of the theme in both genres.
On behalf of literature, Janneke de Vries will read excerpts from Hermann Melville’s last novel Billy Budd. The story (written between 1886 and 1891) takes place at the beginning of the Napoleonic Wars on the British warship Indomitable at a time marked by chaos, adverse conditions within the navy and mutiny. At the centre is the young forerunner Billy Budd, a symbol of the “beautiful sailor” who gets caught up in the master-at-arms’ intrigue and, despite knowing his innocence, is sacrificed to discipline and sentenced to death.
At the same time, Christian Haake will sketch a picture of the sailor and seafaring in music using various exemplary examples. The selection of the musical recordings is always inspired by Melville’s text – sometimes it is directly based on it or, more often, the connection is of an associative nature. Billy Budd’s career is accompanied by Bon Iver, David Grubbs, Björk, instrumental music, experimental electronics and spherical music, all the way to Hans Albers.
An event to the exhibition “Sarah Ortmeyer. Navy Royal”.