Harpsichord and Other Keys

The harpsichord is not the first instrument that comes to mind when we think of progressive, contemporary music. But the mind can deceive. In the 1970s and 1980s, György Ligeti, Iannis Xenakis and Luc Ferrari composed breathtaking works for this instrument.

And new, richly-faceted pieces have also emerged in recent years, many composed for harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani, who performs worldwide. These include Intertwined Distances (2018) for harpsichord and electronics by Anahita Abbasi, which Esfahani will perform on the second concert day. Although Ligeti and Xenakis are part of the known canon, Luc Ferrari’s Programme Commun for harpsichord and tape recorder is a new discovery.

In dialogue with selected works for piano or accordion and electronics by Younghi Pagh-Paan, Hans-Joachim Hespos, Iris ter Schiphorst, Nicolaus A. Huber and Samir Odeh-Tamimi, performed by outstanding musicians such as Claudia Pérez Iñesta and Christoph Grund, a polyphonic and thoroughly musically conceived programme has been designed that spans from the 1970s into the 21st century.

Saturday 26 Oct, 8pm
Iris ter Schiphorst: Dead Wire (2011) for piano, sampler and live electronics
Anahita Abbasi: Intertwined Distances (2018) for harpsichord and electronics
Luc Ferrari: Musique socialiste ? ou Programme Commun pour clavecin et bande (1972) for harpsichord and tape
Nicolaus A. Huber: Auf Flügeln der Harfe (1985) for accordion
Samir Odeh-Tamimi: Polígonos (2016) for piano and electronics

with
Margherita Berlanda: accordion
Mahan Esfahani: harpsichord
Christoph Grund: piano

Further concert on 25 Oct.