On April 26th, we present our 5th subscription concert, free from any labels: Under the title "Ritual Groove," works by Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir and a new piece by Swiss pianist and composer Nik Bärtsch together with his ensemble Nik Bärtsch's MOBILE will be performed. The concert, in cooperation with Kaserne Basel and the Offbeat Jazzfestival Basel, will be conducted by Titus Engel.
Whether jazz, funk, minimalism, contemporary music, Far Eastern philosophy, aesthetics, meditation, or martial arts, contemplative reduction or trance-like repetition: Nik Bärtsch's "Ritual Groove Music" unites diverse perspectives into a unique approach. No aesthetics or demarcation, but rather freedom of spirit. This also applies to his new work "Aphantasia," commissioned by the Basel Sinfonietta and made possible by the support of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia.
The composition is structured in four parts: "The Inner Eye Hears Nothing," "Serious Conversation," "From a Source," and "Aphantasia – The Mind Is Empty." In it, Nik Bärtsch explores the questions of how we hear music and how music communicates.
Hildur Guðnadóttir also defies categorization. Known for her Oscar-winning scores for "Joker" and "Tár," she is averse to the distinction between genres and categories. In "Ascent," "Opaque," "Baer," and "For Petra," influences such as Arvo Pärt, Brian Eno, or meditative, monotonous drone music are subtly present while simultaneously creating a dark atmosphere. Guðnadóttir embarks on a quest for beauty and harmony and can shift character in the blink of an eye. Her works are almost physically palpable.
"We have a good side and a bad side," Guðnadóttir said in an interview. "I'm interested in exploring this musically—how people become evil or undesirable in society."
The concert is being organized in cooperation with Kaserne Basel and the Offbeat Jazzfestival Basel, with the support of the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia
