Songs of Wars I have seen

Concert, Friday 24 April 2009 7:30PM, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London

Slideshow

Heiner Goebbels enjoys the general rehearsal

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the piece ends with the atmospheric chiming of prayer bowls

Heiner Goebbels Sampler Suite from 'Surrogate Cities'

Heiner Goebbels Songs of Wars I have seen

Described by The Times as "a thought-provoking, hauntingly tender work for troubled times", Heiner Goebbels' Songs of Wars I have seen is a theatrical portrait of domestic life during World War II, performed jointly by the London Sinfonietta and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. It combines texts from Gertrude Stein's novel (spoken by the female members of the ensemble), with typewriter like ostinati, a crackling electronic soundtrack and extracts from baroque composer Matthew Locke.

Remixing baroque music also features in Sampler Suite (from Surrogate Cities), a compelling and distinctive ensemble work with extensive use of sampling, from Jewish cantors recorded in the 1920s and 1930s to music electronically manipulated to sound like industrial noise.

The young Estonian, Anu Tali conducts the London Sinfonietta and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

Songs of Wars I have seen was commissioned by Southbank Centre (London) for the London Sinfonietta and Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. This concert is part of Ether 09.

There will be a pre-concert talk at 6pm in the Purcell Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall. Tom Service will talk to Heiner Goebbels and musicians from the London Sinfonietta and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment about tonight's performance. Admission to this event is free, but booking through the Southbank Centre is essential.

Anu Tali conductor
London Sinfonietta
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Sound Intermedia

Royal Academy Composers Lunchtime Recital

Purcell Room, 12–1pm

Composers from the Royal Academy of Music worked with the London Sinfonietta and Heiner Goebbels’ piece Surrogate Cities exploring the noises of cities, through electronic and acoustic sound worlds.

This lunchtime recital will see seven new pieces premiered, ahead of the evening concert with the London Sinfonietta and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment in which Surrogate Cities features.

Post-concert event with Performers from the Royal Academy of Music

Front Room, 9.30–10.15pm

An ensemble of musicians from the London Sinfonietta and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment have worked with composer and animateur Rachel Leach and performers from the Royal Academy of Music in a week-long project exploring Heiner Goebbels’ Songs of Wars I have seen. In response to this piece, the group have created their own new work which will be showcased in this post-concert event.

Links:
Southbank Centre
Royal Academy of Music