FREEDOM O(R) SPEECH

FREEDOM O(R) SPEECH

I Solisti del Vento, Red Note Ensemble, Song Circus
Actor: Jan Decleir and Simon Callow
Conductor: Etienne Siebens
fossite

Angela Merkel is a Wagner enthusiast, Barack Obama listens to Bob Dylan and Vladimir Putin enjoys Russian folk music. Still sounds are seldomly a point of concern for politicians. But if choirs can topple a government and symphonies can discourage an army, then music is more than purely pleasure. In ancient China the first emperor of a new dynasty determined which pitch was in harmony with the cosmos. And in his ‘Republic’ Plato regarded only Phrygian and Doric scales to be politically correct: all others threatened the ideal civilisation.

Dutch composer Louis Andriessen took Plato’s text as the initial concept for a cantata which forms a fist against rigid forms of government with energetic rhythms and recalcitrant chords. Andriessen’s ‘De Staat’ (The Republic) is both a accusation against the soulless and suffocating totalitarianism which Plato defends and a reflection on his musical convictions. Andriessen seems to say with his explosive minimalism: everything a composer puts to paper is filled with political, social or religious meaning.

Thereof Mauricio Kagel was also convinced. Everything this Argentinian German composed is a politically tinged mockery of musical history. In ‘Der Tribune’ (The Tribune) – an audio play for political orator, marching sounds and speakerphone – Kagel twists Andriessen’s rhythmical tightness to a virtuously absurdist monologue, soaked with comical rage and disdainful indignation. Demagogy, misleading the people and egotripping are merged with marching band music with oom-pah-pah coppers and tickling woods.

We place both these analyses of the political system – one razor sharp, the other viciously joyful – right next to each other. A new text by writer Dimitri Verhulst to Kagel’s music hurrays the dawn of a new political age with malicious merriment: ‘The future beckons, the sky is clearing and even the roses are turning blue. Tomorrow, tomorrow is mine and yours.’

A production of I Solisti del Vento in collaboration with Red Note Ensemble, Song Circus and Sound Festival with concerts Scotland, Belgium and The Netherlands

With the kind support of: Aberdeen City Council’s Made in Aberdeen programme, Creative Scotland National Lottery Funding, Music Norway and Arts Council Norway

YET ANOTHER LOVELY REVIEW OF OUR ALBUM!

This time in German Magazine Bad Alchemy:

http://www.2l.no/anm/2L-117-124_Bad-Alchemy.pdf

Great review in Vital Weekly!

“An extraordinary work. What impressed me immediately is the immensely detailed and microtonal spectrum. A world full of nuances and small gestures that make up one giant musical construction in twelve movements. One can dwell endlessly in this strange world. Complex, and above all utterly beautiful.”

http://www.vitalweekly.net/1059.html

Great review in Nieuwe Noten (NL)

«A simply unique performance by Song Circus on this album, “Anatomy of Sound”. Years of preparation is presented to us this incredible piece, and in such an exemplary manner. This piece requires an incredible amount of these five vocalists. There is alternately sung and spoken, but the human voice is also used by all other means, literally as an instrument. From whisper soft to icy raw and between all possible nuances, an unreal diverse spectrum of tone colours. A whole fairytale; poetic, terrifying and ghostly time. As a musical poem in which each note will be extremely detailed in the spotlight. Gjertsen’s music sounds remarkably transparent, and his musical language very detailed and full of nuances. This is music that begs to be listened extremely concentrated. Only then his world reveals itself fully…»

Listen to the music: http://phonofile.link/anatomy-of-sound
Hybrid SACD and Pure Audio Blu-ray: https://shop.klicktrack.com/2l/1001457

Read the whole review in Dutch:

Song Circus with EP release!

Vocal excerpts from ANATOMY OF SOUND by Song Circus and 2L.

http://phonofile.link/vocal-excerpts-anatomy-of-sound
Pure Audio Blu-ray with 9.0 Auro-3D: https://shop.klicktrack.com/2l/1001457

Song Circus at Classical:NEXT

In May, Song Circus participated in Classical:Next, the world’s most important industry gathering for classical music. It was the first time a Norwegian ensemble was selected as one of the six featured showcases. Over the course of three days, we met with around twenty institutions, agencies, production companies, journalists, and ensembles within the classical music industry. A hectic schedule of seminars and meetings, along with our showcase success at DeDoelen, gave us plenty to smile about!

Classical:NEXT om Song Circus:

Norwegian ensemble Song Circus is comprised of five vocalists, and the music they make is thrilling, demanding, and light-years removed from traditional choral music. Thick vocal textures are interwoven with washes of digital sound. A singer’s whisper morphs into a full-throated roar, then yields to near-subliminal mouth percussion. Just as unique, Song Circus’ stage setup surrounds the audience, positioning them within the ensemble so they can act as co-conspirators in the performance.

Under Classical:NEXT presenterte vi også vår splitter nye musikkfilm «Anatomy of Sound»:

Classical:Next Rotterdam

Song Circus had an amazing and busy week during Rotterdam in May, attending seminars and meetings, establishing new collaborations, booking concerts and performing a successful showcase concert in deDoelen! Thank you for inviting us Classical:NEXT!

UPSWEEP-WHISTLE-BLOOP AT NORDISCHER KLANG

Upsweep-Whistle-Bloop at Nordischer Klang, Greifswald. Concept, visuals and music by Jasmijn Visser and Stine Janvin Motland. Performed and created with Song Circus (Liv Runesdatter, Signe Irene Stangborli Time, Anita Kaasbøll, Eva Bjerga Haugen, Stine Javel), Costumes by Altinstark(Esra Altin, Samy Celler) photos by Eva-Fiore Kovacovsky

French review «Anatomy of Sound» OPUS HD

Le groupe vocal Song Circus composé de six artistes, Stine Janvin Motland, Maria Norseth Garli, Liv Runesdatter, Anita Kaasbell, Eva Bjerga Haugen et Ronnaug Bakke, est spécialisé dans la musique contemporaine et l’improvisation. Il propose ici deux œuvres, « Landscape With Figures » de Ruben Sverre Gjertsen, sur des textes de Damian Vitanza et James Joyce, puis « Persefone » de Ole-Henrik Moe JR. Ruben Sverre Gjersten a étudié la composition à l’Académie Grieg de Bergen auprès de Morten Eide Pedersen et James Clapperton avant de suivre les Masters classes de notamment Brian Ferneyhough, Klaus Huber, Salvatore Sciarrino, Philippe Hurel. Ole-Henrik Moe JR fit ses études de violon et de composition en Norvège, en France et en Allemagne. Sa rencontre avec Iannis Xenakis, à la Sorbonne à Paris fut, pour lui, déterminante. Comme au temps de la chanteuse et muse de Luciano Berio, Cathy Berberian dans les années soixante, c’est une technique vocale nouvelle que l’on aborde ici, faisant la part belle à la virtuosité. Dans une mise en espace particulière, la musique se déploie avec rigueur et force, laissant l’auditeur à la fois spectateur et acteur d’un univers aux repères déplacés qu’il faut reconsidérer à l’aune d’un partage émotionnel totalement nouveau lui aussi. Avis aux amateurs.
Jean-Jacques Millo

http://www.opushd.net/article?article=2293

Review of «Anatomy of Sound» in French Opus HD Magazine)

Le groupe vocal Song Circus composé de six artistes, Stine Janvin Motland, Maria Norseth Garli, Liv Runesdatter, Anita Kaasbell, Eva Bjerga Haugen et Ronnaug Bakke, est spécialisé dans la musique contemporaine et l’improvisation. Il propose ici deux œuvres, « Landscape With Figures » de Ruben Sverre Gjertsen, sur des textes de Damian Vitanza et James Joyce, puis « Persefone » de Ole-Henrik Moe JR. Ruben Sverre Gjersten a étudié la composition à l’Académie Grieg de Bergen auprès de Morten Eide Pedersen et James Clapperton avant de suivre les Masters classes de notamment Brian Ferneyhough, Klaus Huber, Salvatore Sciarrino, Philippe Hurel. Ole-Henrik Moe JR fit ses études de violon et de composition en Norvège, en France et en Allemagne. Sa rencontre avec Iannis Xenakis, à la Sorbonne à Paris fut, pour lui, déterminante. Comme au temps de la chanteuse et muse de Luciano Berio, Cathy Berberian dans les années soixante, c’est une technique vocale nouvelle que l’on aborde ici, faisant la part belle à la virtuosité. Dans une mise en espace particulière, la musique se déploie avec rigueur et force, laissant l’auditeur à la fois spectateur et acteur d’un univers aux repères déplacés qu’il faut reconsidérer à l’aune d’un partage émotionnel totalement nouveau lui aussi. Avis aux amateurs.
Jean-Jacques Millo

http://www.opushd.net/article?article=2293

Anatomy of Sound nominated Norwegian Grammy

The Song Circus album «Anatomy of Sound», with music by Ruben Sverre Gjertsen and Ole-Henrik Moe is nominated Spellemann 2015 (Norwegian Grammy). We are so proud and honored.

http://phonofile.link/anatomy-of-sound

I have been working on a new art project: «Transit», a music installation with Song Circus and a group of untrained voices by refugees and immigrants from nine different countries.
Text by Confucius and Mansur Rajih (Jemen/Norway). Guest soloist: Khaled Habeeb (oud).

In the first week of Desember we did eight performances in Rogaland, Western Norway. We have made new friends, and we have been moved by individuals´ strength and bravery. I have witnessed how people contribute to help the refugees who arrive the city, and I have met skepticism.

يبقى
ومن ليس اصيلا يتهاوى
ستجرفه الريح بعيدا
عن مجرى الثورة
والوطن المتجدد دوما في التأصيل
طريقك يا وطني
درب الحرية
هذا الدرب طويل

In collaboration with Johannes Læringssenter. Supported by Rogaland Fylkeskommune, Stavanger Kommune, Musikernes Konsertfond (MFO Rogaland) and Arts Council Norway.

«Through minutiae explorations into the very microlevels of sound anatomy, through vocal investigations into, as well as the activation of, spatial premises and through the discovery of timbral qualities of objects, Song Circus masters an unusual audial vocabulary that expands the idea of what music can be.»

We are happy and proud to present the newly released album Anatomy of Sound.

Listen here: http://phonofile.link/anatomy-of-sound

The album marks the first release from the contemporary vocal chamber ensemble and a first time collaboration with the multiple Grammy-nominee Lindberg Lyd. Delve into minutiae explorations of the very microlevels of sound anatomy, through vocal investigations that expands the idea of what music can be!

If you have access to a home cinema or audio surround system, we invite you to a fascinating three dimensional soundscape. Anatomy of Sound is available on Blu-ray and hybrid SACD, recorded, produced and released by Lindberg Lyd /2L.

«An unforgettable experience. Rich and strange. As audience I experienced being in a terrain, from a time when listening to the environment was essential for survival. To be reminded of this, not only intellectually but physically and spatially, is rare. I let myself run and seduce and enjoy a contemporary art experience, and was awakened by an ancient vigilance. Strange and exceptional»

Disc 1
Hybrid SACD
MCH 5.0 DSD
Stereo DSD

Disc 2
Pure Audio Blu-ray
DTS HD MA 192kHz/24 bit 5.0
Auro-3D 96kHz/24 bit 9.0
LPCM 192kHz/24 bit STEREO
mShuttle: stereo FLAC 96kHz + MP3

New album release!

«Through minutiae explorations into the very microlevels of sound anatomy, through vocal investigations into, as well as the activation of, spatial premises and through the discovery of timbral qualities of objects, Song Circus masters an unusual audial vocabulary that expands the idea of what music can be.»

We are proud of our album!

Listen here: http://phonofile.link/anatomy-of-sound

We highly recommend purchasing the physical release. If you have a home theater with surround sound, you can immerse yourself in a fascinating three-dimensional soundscape. The album has been released in eight, four, and two sound channels, recorded, produced, and released by Lindberg Lyd / 2L, and by Northern Europe’s undisputed leader in surround sound, Morten Lindberg.

«An unforgettable experience. Rich and strange. As audience I experienced being in a terrain, from a time when listening to the environment was essential for survival. To be reminded of this, not only intellectually but physically and spatially, is rare. I let myself run and seduce and enjoy a contemporary art experience, and was awakened by an ancient vigilance. Strange and exceptional»

Anatomy of Sound er innspilt i Uranienborg Kirke, av Lindberg Lyd i 9.0 Auro-3D.

Disc 1
Hybrid SACD
MCH 5.0 DSD
Stereo DSD

Disc 2
Pure Audio Blu-ray
DTS HD MA 192kHz/24 bit 5.0
Auro-3D 96kHz/24 bit 9.0
LPCM 192kHz/24 bit STEREO
mShuttle: stereo FLAC 96kHz + MP3

Utgivelsen er støttet av Norsk Kulturråd, Fond for utøvende kunstnere og Fond for lyd og bilde.

Release Concerts during Nordic Music Days in Copenhagen

SONG CIRCUS – ANATOMY OF SOUND

September 26th 15.30 / 16.45
Dome of Visions, Copenhagen

http://domeofvisions.dk/dome-of-visions/

The album Anatomy of Sound will be released at Song Circus´ concerts during Nordic Music Days in Copenhagen, one of the leading European festivals for contemporary music. Song Circus will perform Landscape with Figures by Ruben Sverre Gjertsen.

Song Circus has collaborated with Ruben Sverre Gjertsen on the development of his project Landscape with Figures since 2011. The human voice is a central part of the instrumental palette of this project and much of the music is the result of the joint efforts of the ensemble and the composer. Landscape with Figures is partially open in its form; the music is tremendously detailed and intricately notated and requires considerable musical and vocal technique and virtuosity. The composition stretches the limits of tonal flexibility and microtonal precision. The vocalists are positioned among the audience, and electroacoustic sounds are conveyed via a large loudspeaker setup that fills the room and creates a three-dimensional terrain.

Gatemagasinet Asfalt on the meeting between Song Circus and Funkishuset

Song Circus had a particularly wonderful experience meeting the people at Funkishuset. In the first issue of Asfalt 2015, journalist Marius Harlem describes his experience of what happened that day:

STREET MAGAZINE ASFALT, Issue 1, 2015:

«A long low tone is heard from the hallway. Then another. The slow multi-voiced song sneaks into the living room, where it is met with quiet conversation. Someone grabs a waffle. Another man opens the newspaper. ‘What are you doing this weekend?’

He tries to take the room back from the music with a bit of everyday chatter in a normal tone. No one shushes him, but the responses are soft-spoken. The voices in the hallway insist on not being reduced to background music. Two new guests arrive. They navigate between the four singers in the hallway and out to the terrace to smoke. When the first part of the song ends, only Jack, Tor, and the staff remain. They clap softly.

Tor says he mostly listens to Bob Dylan and the Rolling Stones.
‘And I’ve been to Roskilde, but it wasn’t mostly for the music, if you know what I mean. But this was nice.’

‘I felt completely calm from this,’ says Jack, turning to the ensemble and smiling. ‘Come and sing for me at nine every morning, and I can cut out the Valium.»

Song Circus & Lindberg Lyd in Uranienborg Kirke

Song Circus is recording Ruben Sverre Gjertsen’s ‘Landscape with Figures’ and Ole-Henrik Moe’s ‘Persefone’ in 9.1 Auro-3D. It will be released in Pure Audio Blu-Ray by 2L.