The composers in this programme share a fascination for unusual sounds. The Russian Alexander Khubeev won the Gaudeamus Award in 2015 with Ghost of Dystopia, in which a conductor controls electronically amplified glasses and plastic boxes by means of wires attached to his body. The jury praised him for his ‘advanced techniques’ and ‘mysterious and profound sound worlds’. 

Spiral Episodes by Christopher Trapani is a whirlwind of ostensibly dissociated motifs, ultimately coalescing around the gritty sound of an electric guitar. In White/Waves, Sky Macklay cuts through the overwhelming noise of ocean waves with whooping electronics. In Meanwhile, behind, between, etcetera, Wilbert Bulsink employs plangent glissandi to iluminate the sounds lurking between the black and white notes on the piano. Jan-Peter de Graaff creates poetical tonal structures in which he enjoys hiding theatrical surprises.

Artists

ALEXANDER KHUBEEV
The Codex of thoughtcrimes (Première, commissioned by  Gaudeamus)
WILBERT BULSINK 
Meanwhile, behind, between, etcetera (commissioned by Asko|Schönberg)*  
JAN-PETER DE GRAAFF 
Rimpelingen (commissioned by Asko|Schönberg and Gaudeamus)** 
CHRISTOPHER TRAPANI
Sparrow Episodes
SKY MACKLAY
White/Waves

ASKO|SCHÖNBERG
CAPPELLA AMSTERDAM
conductor Bas Wiegers
cello Hans Woudenberg

*supported by The Performing Arts Fund NL
**supported by Stichting Vrienden Nederlandse Muziek