PRICE:
$28.50
IN STOCK
ARTIST
TITLE
Reaping From The Conflux
FORMAT
2LP

LABEL
CATALOG #
AVM 069LP AVM 069LP
GENRE
RELEASE DATE
12/18/2020

Double LP version. Philipp Hülsenbeck and Michael Schönheit entered their collaborative space, the Great Hall of Gewandhaus Leipzig, in spring 2019, in order to explore the sonic potential of the Schuke organ juxtaposed with unrestrained electronic synthesis and otherworldly digital processing. With ease, clarity and fruitful respect towards the others craft, they composed Reaping From The Conflux, an hour-long work of music, condensed in a synergy of opposing musical aesthetics, teetering between acoustic instrumentation and digital manipulation -- a push-and-pull between discordance and tranquility. Intermingling the organic with the inorganic in an unbiased exchange, Hülsenbeck and Schönheit created a dense work shifting from somber to celestial, leaving enough space in the room to allow sound to breathe. In order to interweave digital and material realms, Hülsenbeck's software synthesizers blasting into the concert hall were given the same attention as the 6.845 pipes making up the gigantic organ, an instrument often referred to as the queen of instruments. The sharp, synth-driven Peak Independence is counterpointed by the serenity that inhabits the repeating Basso Ostinato in Entities as well as Hülsenbeck's piano playing on Now Smile. The latter two pieces feature contributions by Schönheit's wife Katharina Dargel (Gewandhausorchester Leipzig) on viola, Tsepo Kolitsoe Pooe (The Miagi Orchestra, The String Archestra) on cello, and Johannes Weber (Unguarded, Jungstötter) on double bass. After his studies in conducting, piano and organ, Michael Schönheit started his first organist position in 1985, just one year before being appointed Gewandhausorganist in Leipzig in 1986. In this position he assumes artistic responsibility for the Gewandhaus organ concerts and thematic cycles, as well as collaborating with members of the Gewandhaus Orchestra. Michael Schönheit has been Artistic Director of the Merseburg Organ Festival since 1994, assuming the additional role of Merseburg Cathedral Organist in 1996. He is in great demand as soloist the world over, appearing across Europe, the USA and Japan. He has performed as soloist with orchestras such as the Gewandhaus Orchestra, Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, Munich Philharmonic, and New York Philharmonic, to name but a few. Philipp Hülsenbeck started his musical career as part of the experimental pop outfit Sizarr. After the band went on hiatus in 2017, he started focusing on his solo works. Since 2017, he has been working with Fabian Altstötter as part of his project Jungstötter. Reaping From The Conflux was commissioned by Gewandhaus Leipzig in 2019 as part of their collaborative program Two Play To Play.