Modern Art Ensemble at Konzerthaus Berlin

About the Event

What does the universe sound like? Sergej Newski's “Incidents” deals with sudden events which, when taken separately, can be interpreted in many different ways: as sudden vibrations or human actions, as incidents that occur without warning. Rebecca Saunders' “Stirring Stills” for five instrumentalists distributed throughout the concert hall reflects a space in which sounds materialize as if by themselves.

With “String IV‐M,” Michael Quell explores one of the current theories about the cohesion of the universe. According to string theory, currently the only physical theorem capable of unifying all four elementary forces (electromagnetism, strong and weak nuclear force, and gravity), all particles of matter and all interactions can be traced back to the smallest one‐dimensional building blocks, strings, which can best be imagined as tiny vibrating threads.

In Allain Gaussin's “L'harmonie des sphères,” on the other hand, the ancient idea of the sound of the planets is taken up. Gaussin took the title from Pythagoras and Kepler. What interested him in his score was not the theoretical aspect of their research, but rather the poetic and metaphorical content of their thoughts, which focus on the kinetics of the celestial bodies revolving around each other and the diverse geometric lines they draw in the universe.

The concert concludes with Chaya Czernowin's “Fast darkness III ‐moonwards,” a haunting and radical new work by one of the most important composers of our time about darkness and our journey into it.

Program

Sergej Newski
„Incidents“ für Flöte, Violoncello, Akkordeon und Klavier

Rebecca Saunders
„Stirring Stills I“ für Flöte, Oboe, Klarinette, Percussion und Klavier

Michael Quell
„String IV‐M“ für Flöte, Klarinette, Violoncello, Akkordeon und Percussion

Allain Gaussin
„L'harmonie des sphères“ für Flöte, Klarinette, Violine, Violoncello, Percussion und Klavier

Chaya Czernowin
„Fast darkness III — moonwards“ für Flöte, Klarinette, Violine, Viola, Violoncello und Klavier