On Saturday 30 November, Rewire is teaming up with the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision’s RE:VIVE initiative for Resonance, a day of concerts, workshops, and discourse exploring new contexts in contemporary church music at Stevenskerk in Nijmegen. The event is free for students, CJP-members and under 27 year olds (registration is required), regular tickets are €5. Tickets/registration via rewirefestival.nl/tickets.
For almost two millennia, astounding and technically innovative musical performances have been staged in churches using one of the most complex instruments in the world, the organ, and one of the most universal, the voice. The carillon, or church bell, completes the triumvirate. Once the master clock of the community, the carillon can still be heard resonating through streets today. It’s a lasting reminder of the social significance and omnipresence of these crucial heritage sites.
Rewire has been staging performances in churches since its inception, and some of the most transcendent Rewire festival experiences have happened in church venues over the years. Now Rewire is heading to the oldest and largest church in Nijmegen for a day of contemporary musical performances highlighting the three aural pillars of the church: the carillon (or bells), the voice and the organ.
Dutch composer Martijn Comes will present together with Malgosia Fiebig a newly commissioned piece for the Stevenskerk carillon titled ‘Radiance’, which visitors will experience outside the Stevenskerk before entering the building for Comes’ second performance using tape recordings and electronics, titled ‘Time’. Minimalist composer Kali Malone will present original compositions on the Stevenskerk’s monumental 18th century König organ, performing together with haunting film score composer Erik Enocksson. All-female Drone choir NYX completes the music programme. NYX are a six member vocal troupe who are reshaping the role of the traditional female choir with ambient and ecstatic soundscapes.
Parallel to the music programme, during the day there will be a workshop for musicians and a discourse program with experts from the music and heritage world.
This event is part of the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed Kerk & Kunst initiative. Further info about the Rijksdiensts full Kerk & Kunst program can be found at: https://www.toekomstreligieuserfgoed.nl/
For a taste of what to expect during Resonance, listen to Kali Malone‘s current album, ‘The Sacrificial Code’, featuring almost two hours of concentrated, creeping organ pieces via bandcamp:
Read up about NYX on The Quietus, who profiled the six member troupe after the premier of their liminal ceremonial concert with Iona Fortune at the Grote Kerk during Rewire 2019.
Resonance
Date: Saturday 30 November 2019
Lineup: Kali Malone, NYX, Martijn Comes
Location: Stevenskerk, Sint Stevenskerkhof 62, Nijmegen
Doors open: 18.45
Start: 19.15, the programme ends at 22.00
Tickets: €5 / free for students/<27 yr/CJP-members (registration required). Order/register via rewirefestival.nl/tickets
Photo credit: Flip Franssen
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