Touching Music

«Touching Music» expands the act of listening to include other forms of perception. For his «Growth» cycle, Mike Svoboda draws inspiration from art and found sound objects. Together with the Concept Store Quartet, he creates music that combines sensory experience with questions about our present day.

«Composers such as Olivier Messiaen and Jean Sibelius were synesthetes who saw colours when listening to music. I myself tend to perceive geometric, moving shapes – and, conversely, when looking at abstract art, such as that of Mark Rothko, Piet Mondrian or Agnes Martin, I often hear corresponding sounds. Art galleries are therefore an endless source of musical inspiration for me. In my «Growth» series, I imagine music that could be seen, smelled, felt or touched. Each work is based on a found sound object: a historical recording, a field recording or an interview. This sound object acts like a sourdough starter: from it springs the rhythmic, harmonic or structural foundation of the respective piece. The pieces are not traditional chamber music, but are conceived as concertos – with one member of the quartet taking the lead in each piece. The Concept Store Quartet’s unusual line-up opens up almost endless possibilities for a virtuosic, sensual and also ironic exploration of sometimes contradictory social themes such as cultural appropriation, pacifism, nostalgia, immigration, tradition and innovation. For me, this is not just about listening in the narrow sense. I want to address the audience directly and encourage active emotional participation. Two of the works have already been performed several times by the Concept Store Quartet. The cycle is completed with two new pieces.» – Mike Svoboda

With

Alicja Pilarczyk (violin); Pablo González Balaguer (saxophone); Nejc Grm (accordion); Jeanne Larrouturou (drums); Mike Svoboda (composition)

Program

Mike Svoboda (*1960):
«Growth I», for Isaac Stern Violin Concerto (2020)
«Growth III», for Alan Lomax Accordion Concerto (2027)
«Growth IV», for Rahsaan Roland Kirk Saxophone Concerto (2027)
«Growth II», for Yoko Ono Snare Drum Concerto (2021)

Duration

60 minutes, no break

Prices

CHF 35.-/25.-/15.- (free choice at the box office or in advance)
Free admission applies to persons with residence permit N, F or S. / CHF 5.- students of the Hochschule für Musik FHNW and the Musicology Seminar of the University of Basel / CHF 10.- members Colourkey, KulturLegi and children under 12 years.

Links

→ conceptstorequartet.com
→ mikesvoboda.net