Zwerm - Electric Consort

I'm very excited about the premiere of Electric Consort, a new Zwerm production, at the AlbaNova festival in Bilzen on june 29th!

Zwerm delves into the repertoire of the English Renaissance music! Inspired by the popular genre of consort music, Zwerm will transform its instrumentation of an electric guitar quartet into a contemporary consort  - or “electric consort” -  and pay tribute to some of the old masters in a contemporary setting.


By re-interpretating the very popular “In Nomine”-tune, which inspired composers like John Taverner, Christopher Tye, Thomas Tallis, William Byrd and John Dowland, just to name a few; or by making new adaptations of consort-songs with often obvious links to folk music; Zwerm will playfully revisit certain classics of the repertoire in its alter ego of “Electric Consort”. Lastly also the deep fascination with melancholy, so typical for their time, will be addressed in different ways.

Check out our trailers:

Click here te read an interview with yours truly (in dutch) about Electric Consort.

 

Performance dates:

29/06/2014 AlbaNova Festival, Alden Biezen

03/08/2014 MA-festival, Bruges

03/05/2015 Festival van Vlaanderen, Kortrijk

09/05/2014 deBijloke, Ghent

 

 

"Give my regards to 116th street" solo-recital at La Maison du People in Brussels!

Coming up next! On friday 20th of juin I'll perform my solo-recital "Give my regards to 116th street" again, this time at the Maison du People in St-Gilles, Brussels as part of Sonar's "Grand soirée de la fête de la Musique". The music presented in this program are all solo-guitar pieces written by composers I met during my 3-year long stay in New York City. The program will include 2 premiers by Alex Mincek and Taylor Brook next to solo pieces by Aaron Einbond, Paul Clift, Rama Gottfried and Christopher Trapani!

There will be other events on the same evening, a piano recital by Stephane Ghinsburgh and a performance by the legendary American composer/performer Charlemaigne Palestine!

For more info about the event click here! Free entrance!

Give us a lift! soundinitiative fundraiser

soundinitiative has the honour of being the first French ensemble to be selected to participate in the Boost! Young Ensembles Program as part of the Darmstadt Ferienkurse für Neue Musik(Germany), from August 2nd - 16th 2014.

The group will have the opportunity to work with contemporary music specialists and industry professionals from across the world, working on performance practice, presentation, promotion and dissemination.            

soundinitiative will perform a concert of music by Diez-Fischer, Lanza & Bailie for an audience of peers, potential collaborators and partners as well as being ensemble in residence for Simon Steen-Andersen's composition studio and a part of the electronics workshop.

The festival takes care of the pedagogical and technical costs associated with the event, however it is up to the ensemble to finance the two weeks of accommodation and the transport to and from Paris for the 12 musicians and our guest conductor.

The fundraising campaign with conclude on the 18th of June with an event at the Maison Rouge (contemporary art 'Fondation Antoine de Galbert', Paris 75004) during which the ensemble will perform a new version of their 'Hors les murs' concert concept spread throughout the exhibition 'Le Mur' which has been curated for the 10 year anniversary of the Foundation.

We are calling on you, the ensembles friends, fans and supporters, to help us to make the most of this opportunity that has been afforded us.

Since the soundinitiative's formation almost 3 years ago we have been an active part of the Parisian and the European new-music scene, are we're sure that this experience in Germany will help us to continue to grow and develop as a force for cultural exchange and musical exploration in Europe and the world.

With your help we can put the ensemble in the best position to make the most of the experience.

click here to donate or for more info about this fundraising campaign. 

Zwerm @ Nuit Insolite, Chambord

After Zwerm's succesfull performance at the Palais the Tokyo beginning of may, François Sarhan invited us again for a performance of his music, this time in the very exceptional location of Chateau Chambord in the beautiful Loire-region. Zwerm performed Sarhan's music on boats outside the castle, with the audience approaching from inside the castle. An exceptional setting, check out some of the fotos here!

 

Coming up: Zwerm's Paris debut at Le Palais de Tokyo!

On friday may 2nd electric guitar quartet Zwerm will present it's first concert in Paris in the magnificent Palais de Tokyo! The concert is part of the festival Extension, organised by La Muse en Circuit en will feature french composer François Sarhan. We will premier his impressive new piece "Wandering Rocks" written for 4 electrique guitars and tape difused over 16 speakers in the big space of the grand rotonde in the Palais de Tokyo. Not te be missed!

The event takes place on friday may 2nd at 20h. For more info click here!