Windkraft – Kapelle für Neue Musik presents an extraordinary program with premieres at the “listening closely” festival in Innsbruck’s Treibhaus, which is entirely dedicated to world premieres and Austrian premieres. An evening unfolds between jazz and new music, illuminating the interface between sound and language, tradition and innovation. The works build bridges between past and present and open new perspectives on unheard sound worlds.

The program includes Ralph Schutti’s “Hinter // Glas,” in which Carolina Schutti’s poetry meets a fascinating musical interpretation. The work explores contemporary uncertainties and transforms language into a sonic experience characterized by rhythmic precision and expressive color. 

Arturo Fuentes’ “Alla Duke” is a homage to Duke Ellington, not only capturing his musical sophistication but also combining the essence of swing with modern sonic possibilities. Written specifically for jazz band, the work combines improvisation with carefully composed passages, bringing the vibrant energy of jazz into a contemporary language.

Ralph Mothwurf’s latest work, A COSMIC CITY, is a sonic exploration of fictional urban spaces. Inspired and fascinated by ancient metropolises that aligned their architecture with star constellations, Mothwurf creates a multifaceted musical scenario. Repetitive structures lend the music a ritualistic character, while unexpected sonic eruptions disrupt the apparent monotony. The richly contrasting instrumentation and sophisticated rhythmic design create an acoustic panorama that invites listeners to immerse themselves in the mysterious atmosphere of an unknown world. 

Martijn Padding’s Two Trumpets Descending is an intimate musical dialogue inspired by his personal memories of Louis Andriessen. Two trumpets engage in a multifaceted exchange characterized by playful contrasts, harmonic twists, and a suspenseful cadence. The arrangement of the soloists in the space creates an impressive acoustic dimension.

Louis Andriessen’s M is for Man, Music, Mozart was conceived, composed, and designed in 1991 by the BBC on the 200th anniversary of Mozart’s death, in an intensive collaboration between Louis Andriessen and Peter Greenaway. It combines minimalist drive with jazz-inspired rhythms and an expressive wind ensemble. The composition is characterized by driving saxophones, striking wind fanfares, and an unconventional structure. The film itself, an ironic reflection on the creation of humanity, music, and Mozart’s role in it, reinforces the dramatic power of the music. The combination of visual art and sound makes it audible how Andriessen blurs the boundaries between classical and popular musical traditions. Windkraft – Kapelle für Neue Musik unfolds with premieres an exciting panorama of contemporary music – from poetic sound experiments to jazz-inspired compositions and opens up new aural worlds in which the music of today is conceived as a sonic future.

Program: 

Ralph Schutti – hinter // glas (UA)

Arturo Fuentes – Alla Duke (UA)

Ralph Mothwurf – A COSMIC CITY (UA)

Martijn Padding – Two trumpets descending

Louis Andriessen – M is for Man, Music, Mozart