Hybrid Music

What is so fascinating about electronically produced music and how does it differ from human sounds? The project “Hybrid Music” was looking for answers to these questions. It formed a unique human-machine ensemble comprised of the renowned chamber ensemble Neue Musik Berlin, tree soloists, six music machines and a music installation by the English artist Martin Riches, whose acoustic works are typically displayed at exhibitions.
In a joint concert, the ensemble performed works especially composed for such a complement. In various works, the composers, such as Masahiro Miwa (Japan) and Roland Pfrengle, contrasted music and technology and examined the specific function of each machine in the music. Sometimes the musicians’ performance corresponded with that of the machines, and at other times, they contradicted or even imitated the machines’ characteristics and functions. Conversely, the machines were “humanized” and programmed to play too fast or too quietly. The ironic aspect of this interaction culminated in Riches’ music machines which are based on the automats of the 18th century, but are controlled by modern computer technology. The concert has been performed at Suntory Hall, the most famous concert hall in Japan, and the Philharmonie in Essen.

Concert programme:
Essen Trilogy for Sound Box, String Thing, Talking Machine, 24 Piece Percussion Installation, percussion, ensemble, modulators and electric sound generators (world premiere).
Composition: Dirk Reith, Thomas Neuhaus, Günter Steinke 2013

For the 24 Piece Percussion Installation
Composition: Tom Johnson 1995

Hitonokiesari (people vanish) for Singing Machine, One Sound and Nine Musicians (world premiere)
Composition: Masahiro Miwa 2013

All Change for flute and Flute Playing Machine
Composition: Schaun Tozer 1982

Projections - Technology and Sensation for Talking Machine, StringThing, 24 Piece Percussion Installation, voice, alto flute, percussion, ensemble and live electronics Composition Roland Pfrengle 2011-2013 (world premiere)

Visual artist: Martin Riches
Conductor: Titus Engel
Soloists: Alexandre Babel (percussion), Katia Guedes (voice), Lesley Olson (flute) Kammerensemble Neue Musik Berlin: Rebecca Lenton (flute), Gudrun Reschke (oboe), Winfried Rager (clarinet), Jack Adler-McKean (tuba), Alexandre Babel (percussion), Ekkehard Windrich (violin), Eran Borovich (double bass), Theo Nabicht (bass clarinet), Matthias Jann (trombone), Emily Yabe (violin), Kristin Maria Pientka (viola), Cosima Gerhardt (violoncello)
Ensemble Management: Thomas Bruns
Project idea: Martin Riches and Roland Pfrengle
Project Management: Elke Moltrecht