York Mediale: The Open Fund for Organisations
For:
Laura Cannell's, 'Untuning of the Sky' Premieres at York Mediale
On Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th September 2018, contemporary violinist and recorder player Laura Cannell will premiere a new commission for York Mediale; The Untuning of the Sky Parts 1
and 2, at the National Centre for Early Music, York with fellow musicians Rhodri Davies, André Bosman and Jonathan Hering, and in collaboration with visual artist Laura Spark.
Cannell’s new works are inspired by the ancient astrological idea of the Music of the Spheres: the idea that the revolution of the planets generates a celestial harmony of profound and transcendent beauty, but that mortals cannot hear. Part One will be accompanied at times by oscillating chamber organ and electronics by André Bosman and harp from Rhodri Davies. In Part Two Jonathan Hering will make new interpretations of renaissance polyphony, performing compositions for up to 8 vocal lines, using modern day technology and his bass to counter-tenor range to sing multi-layered choral music from the 14th – 17th Century, presented in 8-channel surround sound. Across both nights, visual artist Laura Spark will use projection and animation techniques to illuminate the music, building layers of colour, light and imagery.
The pieces will be strikingly different yet complementary, creating a unity between the two nights, which will see different parts of the beautiful Church of St Margaret in York brought to life through clefts of conjured light, apparitions of long lost stained glass and visions of spectral sound. These performances have been made possible through the support of PRS Foundation’s The Open Fund.