“Long Waiting Without Stars” (2009, duration 25:55) is both a video, and a live performance piece, of a string quartet performing alongside poetry readers in fractured Regency era costumes. The string quartet performs a reverse version of Ludwig van Beethoven’s (1770 - 1827) introspective and extremely technically demanding late period “Große Fuge” composition. This string quartet performance (either live or on video) is accompanied by a video of readers presenting the intensely personal image-based ghazal poetry by Sackville, N.B.'s enfant terrible John Thompson (1938 - 1976). This work metaphorically explores the perceived madness that encompassed both these artist’s final years by means of creating a synthesis of the two through music and text.

Concept and Direction
Kenneth Doren

Text
John Thompson (1938 – 1976)
From the Ghazal Poems Number 1 through 38

Music
Based on Große Fuge in B flat major Opus 133
By Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 – 1827)
(performed in reverse)

Readers
Mark Brownlee
Sheelagh Callaghan
Paula Cowan
Linda Rae Dornan
Shayne Ehman
Leah Garnett
Isabel Gertler
James Goddard
Janna Graham
Lesley Johnson
Adriana Kuiper
Amy C Lam
Helen Pridmore
Chris Ricketts
Ron Kelly Spurles
Ryan Suter
Angela Thibodeau
Dan Vogel
Vanessa Yu

Music Performed
Norman Adams - cello
Isabelle Fournier - violin (live performance)
Celeste Jankowski - violin (video recording)
Jennifer Jones - violin
Susan Sayle - viola

Reverse Music Transcription
W.L. Altman

Quartet Recording
John Abram

Videography and Video Editing
Kenneth Doren

Costume Design and Construction
Amanda Fauteux

Costume Concept
Kenneth Doren

On Screen Costume Support
Kenneth Doren
Amanda Fauteux

Funding Provide
Canada Council for the Arts
Conseil des Arts du Canada

Commissioned
Struts Gallery & Faucet Media Arts Centre