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, Myriam Marbe 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 he 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.

Please, pay attantion to the updated programme:

Friday 25 Oct, 8pm
György Ligeti: Continuum (1968) for harpsichord
Younghi Pagh-Paan: Ne Ma-Um (1996) for accordion
Myriam Marbe: La parabole du grenier I (1975/76) for one interpret on piano, harpsichord and celesta
Iannis Xenakis: Psappha (1975) for percussion
Hans-Joachim Hespos: p i a l (1994) for accordion and piano

with
Margherita Berlanda: accordion
Claudia Pérez Iñesta: harpsichord, piano, celesta
Alexandros Giovanos: percussion

Further concert on 26 Oct.