Fragile sensations

What happens when AMKP students and Ensemble Contrechamps musicians become one band? The Polish premiere of Jürg Frey's music will be both a concert and a lesson in attentive listening.

This is encouraged by the music of the Swiss composer, a master of fragile sounds, transparent textures and careful study of acoustic resonances. Frey, associated with the composition collective Wandelweiser, creates music that is sparing, bright and developing without haste. The story of fragile sensations is not based on ostentatious virtuosity. It requires control of timbre and dynamics, patience, and listening to sounds that are just appearing or disappearing. Any gesture can change the delicate balance of the whole team. However, it is also beautiful and touching music. Just like that...

Sacrum Profanum consistently develops cooperation with the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music. First, we invited young composers and performers to present their own work. A year later, the drum students worked with Marshall Trammell on the social practice of group improvisation. This time the adepts will face the repertoire, techniques and way of working that are not often found in the study program — together with Ensemble Contrechamps they will prepare the Polish premiere of Récit des sensations fragiles by the Swiss composer Jürg Frey.

The rehearsals began in June under the supervision of Dr. Martyna Zakrzewska, and the conductor Antoine Françoise is also working on the interpretation with the students. Five Contrechamps musicians and thirteen young performers will form one band of eighteen. Students will not be “extras” to the concert or participants in the master show — they will make up the majority of the cast and, together with experienced artists, will take joint responsibility for the nearly one-hour course of the piece.

The covered courtyard of the National Army Museum will allow this music to resonate freely. The attentiveness that performers learn will also become a guideline for the audience.

Co-organization with the Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Krakow.

Concert supported by Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia.

Availability:

The concert will last about 60 minutes and will take place without interruption. The public will sit on chairs in the covered courtyard of the museum.

The music will sound acoustically, without amplification. It will be quite quiet, slowly developing and based on subtle changes in timbre, dynamics and the sounding of individual sounds. Small noises from the audience can be heard well, so please pay special attention during the concert.