«riss»

In «Riss», the Ensemble Phoenix Basel explores the soundscapes of the French composer Mark Andre. Inspired by theology and existential questions, his works open up intimate and mysterious soundscapes in which sounds and silence become musical experiences.

The French composer Mark Andre experienced a moment of revelation in 1990 when he came across a score by Helmut Lachenmann, who would later become his composition teacher. There he discovered music of existential urgency that seeks its expression beyond standardised playing techniques. Tapping, breathing, striking, tearing, plucking: for Andre, such immediate physical actions became a key to unlocking new sonic spaces.

At the same time, Andre’s music is closely linked to his Christian belief. Through his compositions, he aims to «musically observe and bring to life the gentle, fragile, comforting breath of the Holy Spirit». An important source of inspiration for these soundscapes was Andre’s reading of the text «Der Vorhang zerreisst» («The Curtain is Torn») by the theologian Margareta Gruber. There she interprets the tearing of the temple curtain at the time of Jesus’ death in the Gospel of Mark within the tension between God’s presence and absence.

Mark Andre now explores the hitherto hidden worlds of sound through each of the «cracks». Familiar and strange sounds emerge, then fade away again, and in their subtlety invite the listener to listen closely. Whether the «breath of the Holy Spirit» is indeed revealed in them remains an open question. (According to Guido Fischer)

Andre prefaces the cycle with a quotation from Genesis:
«On the seventh day God completed the work he had created, and he rested on the seventh day after he had finished all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy; for on it God rested after he had completed all the work of creation.(Gen 2:2–3)

«Riss 2» is divided into the sections «riss I-XIV». Andre associates the following statement by the aforementioned theologian Prof. Dr Margaretha Gruber, a nun of the Franciscan Sisters of Siessen (OSF) to these parts: «Jesus chooses the rift as the setting for his life. And it will tear him apart; the place of his death, stretched between heaven and earth on the cross, makes this visible.»

The piece «iv 6» for solo trombone was commissioned by the trombonist Michael Büttler, who had already been involved in the premiere of the «riss» cycle together with the Ensemble Modern. «iv» stands for «introverted» and refers to a series of intimate, fragile and mysterious works for solo instruments and chamber ensembles.

With

Michael Büttler (solo trombone); Ensemble Phoenix Basel; Jürg Henneberger (musical director)

Program

Mark Andre (*1964):
«iv 6» (2026–27, UA, (Commissioned by Michael Büttler) for solo trombone
«riss I» (2015–17)
«riss II» (2014)
«riss III» (2014–16)

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

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

→www.ensemble-phoenix.ch