VONK – Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy

The beating heart of Gaudeamus is the Gaudeamus Award: our annual incentive prize for young composers. Four composers will compete for this coveted prize and their music will be played during various concerts. They have also written brand-new music especially for the festival: this concert features the music that Jenny Beck and Gen Tanaka wrote for ensemble VONK.

The common thread that runs through Jenny Beck’s work is her interest in nature, meditation, ambiguity and intimacy. Her new piece Memory Town is based on a text by the elusive poet Anne Carson. Gen Tanaka’s music is highly spiritual and personal. In his new work Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy the vocalist is assigned the role of shaman, in a psychedelic, dream-like sound world. In addition, VONK will play a selection from A songbook of rare feelings, a programme including new poetry and compositions, especially written for the ensemble.