Bitef

NOTES BY JOŽICA AVBEU, ON PERFORMANCE MONUMENT G, 1972. Introduction - songs Slowly, I walk onto the apron. I am very frightened; actually, it is immense stage fright. My nerves are all over the place, all limbs are fidgeting. I am concentrating hard to start singing, but all I can muster is an inhale that cramps up and relaxes. In general, the trick of this work is in holding back the movements that 1 unintentionally perform, relaxing, inhaling and exhaling, before the movement and also before the song. Finally, I breathe in a lot of air and whisperingly squeeze out: It seemed to me that someone stepped out of the monument and followed us. 1 stretch out the first syllable. This intermediate stage fright is also a preparation for each verse of the song I sing. With a strong, piercing guttural voice (sharp), I sing: Did anyone accompany you on vour journey? Before the song, a strong inhale, afterwards, an exhale, but just before this, I hold the expression in a cramp. In a lower and blowing voice, I sing also: Did you come alone, alone? Then, I switch to an extraordinarily clear, sonorous, soft voice (stage fright intensifying), which sings very quietly: I walked across the fields alone throughout... I again sing with a strong voice, at the same tone, piercingly, without feeling. Today is. Today is an unusual day. And finally: I loved him! Very openly, somewhat passionately. I hold the feeling, strongly exhale and turn around to take my position for the second act.

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