Performed by Arditti Quartet and SWR Symphonieorchester on February 8, 2020 at ECLAT Festival.
Conductor: Michael Wendeberg

About the work:

Named after a quotation from an essay written by Tim Rutherford-Johnson, in which he reflects on the research I had conducted at Hagia Sophia and the extent of its possibilities in unlocking the social memories of an architecture, “… like dissolving ancient amber and letting a trapped insect fly away” is a work composed for simultaneous string quartet and large orchestra that was premiered by the Arditti Quartet and the SWR Symphonieorchester in 2020 at the ECLAT Festival.  The work is simultaneous in the sense that it consists of two interdependent works, namely a string quartet and an orchestral work, which can be performed together or as stand-alone works. As such, the string quartet is not conceived as a concertino group, nor is it regarded as an ensemble of two violins, viola, and cello; but rather as a medium based on its own specific collection of gestures and movements.

“… like dissolving ancient amber…” is based on a hybrid structure modeled after the actual architecture of the Fatih Mosque and what I developed as the hypothetical architecture of the Church of the Holy Apostles. The intention behind this hybrid structure was not to simulate or to map out space, or to render a fixed point of observation for a specific narrative, but to develop a sonic-temporal architecture emerging from two spaces, as a form of resistance re-imagined through embodiment.

"... like dissolving ancient amber and letting a trapped insect fly away."

ret is interested in music and sound, looking for new ways to think about the two. He djs (as ret and his alter-ego Rıza); co-hosted radio shows (Bankpank, means, Madem Evdeyiz and A.I.D.); reads, writes and edits texts on sound; works as a music director (karga and kargART); co-organizes independent festivals (multiRAID, parAID, bankparnaval, Açıkppqqmm); compiles music (Noisy Ground, In Sync); participates in collectives (A.I.D., ppqqmm, Açık Alan) and sometimes steps away from the underground to manage a major string orchestra from Istanbul (Istanbul Strings). When djing, he is after mixing tracks and samples off context to accompany everyday politics, in search of an expression of meaning beyond sound.

20.08.16 @ Coop İstanbul L'AID BACK
21.08.17 @ Çeşmeköy [Multiraid 2] @
13.10.17 @ İstanbul Bilgi Üniversitesi [Radyo Modyan & Açık Alan seri I]
14.11.17 @ Pixie Underground [NOV/ A.I.D]
06.01.18 @ Haymatlos Ankara [A.I.D | Ankara #1] 
04.02.18 @ arkaoda [FEB / A.I.D] 
03.03.18 @ Pixie Underground: 10 Years of Bass 2008 - 2018
27.06.18 @ Muaf Kadıköy [A.I.D. Takes Over]
13.07.18 @ minimüzikhol w/ Bankpanklar [Son Düzlük]
04.08.18 @ Peyote [Art is Dead?]
06.10.18 @ Pixie Underground w/Bulundu Açık Mikrofonlu [ppqqmm n?]
14.12.18 @ Haymatlos Ankara [PAR A.I.D w/ Bankpank-lar]
28.02.18 @ Peyote Eskişehir w/ RAW - Çağrı Erdem
23.02.19 @ Torun w/ w/ Wouwiuwa, Blank Wall Season, Gülmez/ Konanç
 [A.I.D | Ankara #4]
10.05.19 @ Haymatlos Ankara w/ Raw [Bi'Dizi Olay]
05.07.19 @ Buluntu Yalıkavak w/ Bankpank [3 Gün 3 Gece Müdahale]
04.08.19 @ Buluntu Yalıkavak w/ Bankpank [3 Gün 3 Gece BankParnaval]
22.11.19 @ Pixie Underground [Breakcure #2]
09.11.19 @ Shelter Ankara w/ Berna Göl (Bankpank) [İsimsiz Gece]
18.12.19 @ Arkaoda [A.I.D Takes Over! #3]
01.02.20 @ Pixie Underground w/ Bulundu (Etkinlik_Adı02)
14.02.20 @ Karga BapnAnkk #1 // BankPank
15.02.20@ Pixie Underground w/ Gantz / Iskeletor / Granul
06.03.20@ Pixie Underground [Table Records and Friends: İkinci Yıl Kutlaması]
13.03.20@ Hood Base w/ Velvele [Benlik: Kısa Ömürlü Bir Hayvan]
21.07.21 @ Karga Kabin 
17.08.21 @ Karga Kabin 
30.08.21 @ Karga Kabin w/ Muratmrtseçkin

12.09.21 @ Karga Kabin 
15.09.21 @ Kargart w/ Gökay Atabek - muratmrtseçkin [volkfest4]
24.09.21 @ arkaoda w/ means [Root Radio Gecesi]
01.10.21 @ Stüdyo Sumo [M4NM - REFLEKS Exhibition]
01.12.21 @ Şahika w/ Berna Göl 
19.12.21 @ Karga Kabin 
22.12.21 @ Şahika / Electronic Music History (Talk)
15.12.21 @Şahika (A.I.D)
22.01.21 @ Şahika w/ Berna Göl

"... like dissolving ancient amber and letting a trapped insect fly away."

Turgut Erçetin