Tribute to the exceptional linguistic craftsmanship of Tsjêbbe Hettinga.
Nynke
uses (English, Dutch and Frisian) language to create an atmosphere, to
depict a world and share a vision, something she learnt from the Frisian
poet Tsjêbbe Hettinga, among others. His poetry is full of unusual
language and imagery, and he was a wonderful performer too. He knew how
to turn language into music. Tsjêbbe himself said about his work: ‘I
love poetry that is imaginative, with strong sound qualities and a
driving rhythm. I like to evoke and conjure up an atmosphere. I don’t
want to analyse what life – in the broadest sense of the word – is. I
prefer to reveal life, offer a slice of it….’
Lyts en fier fljochsto (Small and far away you fly) - Tsjêbbe Hettinga
The song Hind-eye, in the album Alter, was made in close collaboration with Tsjêbbe. Nynke was able to perform the song live with him only once. During the recording of ‘Hind-eye’, Tsjêbbe was already ill, and he died before the album was released.