Nord!

With «UR» for five instruments and live electronics, the Finnish composer Magnus Lindberg created the chamber music counterpart to his powerful orchestral work «Kraft». It combines the dense energy of Lindberg’s early work – characterised by punk rock and spectralism – with precisely controlled electronic sound manipulation. Rhythms, chord sequences and harmonic processes were generated using mathematical calculations and the programming language LeLisp. The title «UR» refers both to the ancient Sumerian city of Ur and to the prefix used in German and Swedish to denote something extreme, primordial or primitive. In Swedish, the word «ur» also means «clock» or «storm».

Inspired by Peter Maxwell Davies’ «Eight Songs for a Mad King», «over the threshold; right foot» by the Norwegian composer Tze Yeung Ho draws on ancient Chinese poems about court ladies from various dynasties. Each piece explores the relationship between a parrot and the person speaking to it. The parrot serves as a symbol of courtly loneliness. As a constant companion, the parrot repeats the thoughts directed at it, thereby making the isolation of its owners audible.

In «Enigma», the Icelandic composer Anna Thorvaldsdottir explores the concept of the «in-between» and contrasts flow with fragmentation. A pulsating, constantly shifting soundscape enters into dialogue with fragmented musical gestures that emerge, transform and then disappear again. In this way, the perspective shifts continuously between the soundscape and the fragments, whilst their relationship – the «in-between» – forms the very heart of the work.

With

N.N. (Contratenor); Ensemble Phoenix Basel; Jürg Henneberger (musical director)

Program

Magnus Lindberg (*1958): «UR» (1986) for five musicians und Live-Elektronik
Tze Yeung Ho (*1992): «over the threshold; right foot» (2024, SEA) for counter tenor, Pierrot-Ensemble and drums
Anna Thorvaldsdottir (*1977): «Enigma» (2019) for string quartet

Info

Concert introduction with Jürg Henneberger, one hour before the concert begins:
Sat. 12th December 26 at 7.00 pm
Sun. 13th December 26 at 6.00 pm

Duration

90 minutes, with 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

→ ensemble-phoenix.ch