XXIX (Trailer)

In 2007 Laurel MacDonald collaborated with longtime associate John Oswald to create qui, a sound installation for 29 voices singing in 29 languages over 29 speakers, for the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. In 2010, MacDonald decided to create a visual counterpart for this sound work.

The result is the short video XXIX, which features 21 of the original 29 qui singers, performers from many musical genres, each singing in the language of her or his personal heritage. XXIX is an intimate portrait of these singers, and a reflection of the dynamic and spiritual power of the qui music.

XXIX had its world premiere during the Scotiabank Nuit Blanche festival in Toronto in 2010, presented in the lobby of the Royal Ontario Museum as a single-channel video installation with 21-channel sound over 21 speakers. For this exhibition, XXIX received the festival's Scotiabank People’s Choice Award.

Running Time 6:49

THE SINGERS

Neema Bickersteth (Krio)
Aviva Chernick (Spanish)
Sung Chung (Korean)
Ori Dagan (Hungarian)
Narendra Datar (Hindi)
Sophia Grigoriadis (Greek)
Carla Huhtanen (Finnish)
Andrea Koziol (English)
Amélie Lefebvre (French)
Tom Lillington (Italian)
Laurel MacDonald (Latin)

Lizzy Mahashe (Zulu, Xhosa, Sesotho)
Shalva Makharashvili (Georgian)
Paul Oros (Russian)
Pat Patrick (English - Basso Profundo)
Suba Sankaran (Tamil)
Charlene Santoni (Ultra Soprano)
Mitch Smolkin (Hebrew)
Adam Solomon (Swahili)
Aki Takahashi (Japanese)
Maryem Tollar (Arabic)

Original music and lyrics
Qui habitat in adjutorio altissimi by Josquin des Prez (c. 1440-1521)
Direction, videography and video edit Laurel MacDonald
Sound recording and video sound mix Laurel MacDonald
Technical supervisor and multi-channel sound mixes Philip Strong
Postproduction consultant Dennis Day

Produced with the assistance of
Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT)
Gallery 44
Vistek
Produced in association with
the Institute for Contemporary Culture
at the Royal Ontario Museum
and Scotiabank Nuit Blanche
FILM FESTIVAL SCREENINGS 2011

Glasgow Short Film Festival
Heart Of Gold International Film Festival, Australia
Chicago International Movies and Music Festival
Sensoria Shorts, Sheffield UK
Columbus International Film + Video Festival
AWARDS

NUIT BLANCHE TORONTO 2010
Scotiabank People’s Choice Award,
Open Call Category
COLUMBUS IFVF 2011
Award, Experimental Shorts Category
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VIDEO DOCUMENT OF XXIX EXHIBITION AT NUIT BLANCHE IN TORONTO, 2010
FOR EXHIBITION ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT IMPROBABLE MUSIC