Inspired by the descriptions of the effects of mescaline in the works of Henri Michaux, Fausto Romitelli’s work is all about “the artificial, the distorted, the filtered.” Romitelli forges sound sculptures that materialize like surreal musical visions of the deformations, distortions and disfigurements in Francis Bacon’s paintings. Influenced by the distorted and “dirty” sounds of psychedelic rock music, Romitelli creates a unique music that unfolds waves of melodic fragments over seductively fragile harmonies and exalted embellishments and rushing glissandi, only to collapse again and again. Material is jolted, develops expressive metastases, like a virus-infested musical mutant that becomes a beautifully ghoulish monster and captivates. The music of Alexander Kaiser, who in [ˈprɪz(ə)m] takes on the promises of an ideal world through area-wide monitoring of communication in the Western hemisphere, has a similarly wild balance sheet. Musically, the piece can be understood as a transformation of energy, with diverse influences from jazz, punk and electronic music merging into a rhythmically pronounced soundscape. More than enough expressive energy can usually be found in the music of Emre Sihan Kaleli, who likes to work with intensities, impulsivity and changeability and will contribute a new work for the concert

PROGRAM

Alexander Kaiser – [ˈprɪz(ə)m] for six musicians, 2014 (rev. 2016)

Emre Sihan Kaleli – A Dark Light / A Black Sun  for ensemble and electronics, 2023 (wp)
Commissioned by PHACE

Fausto Romitelli – Professor Bad Trip: Lesson I – III for ensemble and electronics, 1998-2000