Music that sparks the imagination in the dark
Imagine sitting in a concert hall in total darkness. On the stage, which is also in darkness, a group of musicians are playing. Every now and then you hear the footsteps of the percussionist, who is the only one who has to move along his row of instruments. Does that sound strange? Or maybe enticing?
Anyone interested can find out how it all feels, because on March 24th, Norrbotten NEO will perform the Austrian composer Georg Friedrich Haas. Solstices (Solstånd) in a concert at Studio Acusticum in Piteå. Later they will also play the same work in Stockholm during Earth Hour in Grünewaldsalen on March 26th and in Eskilstuna Concert Hall on March 27th.
Fittingly, the 75-minute piece had its world premiere at the Nordic House in Reykjavik at the Dark Music Days 2019 festival, where it was premiered by the British ensemble The Riot Ensemble. For those who want to read more about this particular concert, we recommend an article by the orchestra's percussionist Sam Wilson in The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jun/09/georg-friedrich-haas-solstices-riot-ensemble-performance-kings-place
Of course, it is a challenge for musicians to perform Georg Friedrich Haas's piece in total darkness. Not least for the percussionist, who, unlike the other nine musicians, has to move around quite a bit among his many different instruments on stage.
But for composer Georg Friedrich Haas, darkness does not seem to be a gimmick or a funny invention. Instead, it is about his desire to enhance concentration and listening, both among musicians and audience members. With this music, he wants to tell about his own experiences, but also create opportunities for the listener to develop their own personal stories or memories while listening. If you listen to the piece – search online – it is easy to understand what he means, the music really paints pictures, most of which are of course personal to each person.
Unusual experience
The world Haas himself evokes in Solstices is about the feeling he had as a child growing up in the Alpine regions of western Austria. For him, the atmosphere there was not characterized by the scenic surroundings – he felt rather trapped between the narrow mountain passes and experienced the mighty mountains as a threat. He found relief in music and if Solstices He himself has written that “gradually the light returns, and the brighter the light, the softer the music.” An unusual experience. Musically, but actually also visually with the help of our own inner images.
Norrbotten NEO, reinforced with additional musicians (ten in total), rehearses Haas' music on site in Piteå together with The Riot Ensemble's leader Aaron Holloway who participates via link.
Finally live music
Norrbottensmusiken's touring activities have of course been hit hard by the pandemic, but now touring life is starting again. March 14th starts The Music Heroes Sofia Löf and Sigurd Löf are touring preschools and primary schools around Norrbotten to put on the best concert ever together with the children. Both come from Piteå and are experienced music educators and freelancers in many different constellations.
On the same day, Norrbotten Big Band starts its Big band party together with Kjell Peder Johanson, also a long tour that tells the story of Fia and her surly neighbor Rune, who thaws out when he gets to show her the music he likes best. The production is aimed at elementary and middle school students.
A full evening with the Arctic pulse
The weekend of March 18-20, the young people of Norrbotten Youth Symphony Orchestra, NUS, will gather to rehearse together in Studio Acusticum in Piteå, and on April 2, Arctic Pulse will be held – a full evening at Kulturens hus in Luleå with artists such as Ane Brun, Maxida Märak, Norrbotten Big Band with soloist Samuel Ljungblahd, DJ Kas Kan and the interesting group The Meänland. All arranged by Arctic Pulse, an EU-funded project that aims, among other things, to develop music exchange in the Arctic.
Finally we can enjoy live music again. Many of us have been longing for it.
Want to know more?
Welcome to contact Annelii Backman, unit manager Piteå Norrbottensmusiken if you have any questions.
annelii.backman@norrbotten.se