Klangbrücken 2023: Music and Technology | NDR.de – Orchestra and Chorus – NDR Philharmonic Radio

the Bridges of Sound Festival 2023 It takes place from April 20 to May 1 in Hanover. This time, under the theme “Music and Technology,” it deals with a current topic in all its contradictory aspects and its implications for artistic creativity. Particular focus in this context is the compositional work of Iannis Xanakis, who drew inspiration from mathematical, physical or architectural ideas in his plastic and sensual music, often linking them to ancient Greek myths, and thus occupying a unique place in contemporary music.

“Techne” – Sound Bridge Concert by Ensemble Oktoplus

At the Klangbrücken “Techne” concert, the Oktoplus group is dedicated to works that reflect the broad scope of the term “Techne” in a variety of compositional ways. The ancient Greek term “Techne” means much more than what we generally understand by the word technology. The word “Techne” includes both physical and athletic ability, the “technique” of a human being as well as the constructive manual art of “making” and “making”. In addition, the word “Techne” can also refer to philosophy, science, fine arts, and music. Every artistic creation is influenced by technical standards. Thus, playing any musical instrument requires technical skill and learning, as well as grasping and understanding the structure of the work – and the ability to transfer all this to one’s artistic interpretation.

With the Oktoplus set “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”

In this concert, pieces of various styles of the 20th and 21st centuries can be heard, among others, by Xenakis, Messiaen and Steve Reich, in changing instrumentation, from solo concerts to eights. The “42ˈ model” of octets and electronics was created by Periklis Liakakis in 2010 for Ensemble Oktoplus and refers to Douglas Adams’ philosophical science fiction novel “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”.

Oktoplus band

the Oktoplus band It consists largely of musicians from the NDR Philharmonic Radio. The uniqueness of the band, which was founded in Hanover in 2006, is also reflected in its name. The troupe named itself after Franz Schubert’s famous eight and adopted its staff. Eights musicians aim to (re)perform works unknown to the eights. A “plus” stands for—depending on the piece or project—expanding the ensemble by flute, oboe, piano, or speaker, or enriching a program with works in a smaller cast.