O nobillissima viriditas, one of many beautiful songs by Hidegard von Bingen (1098-1179), evokes divine nature and deals with subjects of healing, fertility and growth. In this new version for harp and electronics, the melody of the original song, varied and embelished, is weaved into a dialogue of shimmering resonances between the live harp and fixed media. The electronic part was realised by Richard Barrett, based on recordings that Milana Zarić made on electric harp with effects.
Mislio bi čovek….zvezde is a piece for accordeon solo by Milica Djordjević. This is what the composer wrote: „ the piece is based on two main materials, very delicate, cleas and pure „electronic“ sound, and, on the other hand, contrasted clusters, big and fast movement, „dirty“, „rough“ sounds in the lower registers. The work is a dialogue between these contrasts, in a quazi cubist confrontation of heterogenous materials in limited space. At the beginning they are clearly separated, only to become intertwined as the piece progresses“. Milica Djordjević is an internationally acclaimed Serbian composer. Vladimir Blagojević, soloist of Ensemble Studio 6 will be giving its Serbian premiere.
Calliope Tsoupaki is a contemporary Dutch/Greek composer and professor. When she heard about Isidora Žebeljan’s early passing, she composed Song for Isadora, as an hommage to her dear colleague and friend. This solo oboe piece will be performed by Borislav Čičovački, guest musician with Ensemble Studio 6 and Isidora’s lifetime partner.
Felisiya, a short piece for oboe and harp, was part of music for the theatre play U cara Trojana kozje uši. It is one of the most heartfelt miniatures from the opus of Isidora Žebeljan (1967-2020), the most prominent Serbian composer on the international music scene of all time. Her music is performed by the world’s most distinguished ensembles. Her unique opus includes operas, vocal and instrumental works.
The melancholy of Bačka, for cor anglais and harp, is the last completed piece that Isidora composed, based on the melody first employed in the music for the theatre play Mileva Einstein.
Sonic meditations is a collection of verbal scores by the American composer Pauline Oliveros. It consists of tasks and suggestions connected with the nature and experience/embodiment of the sound itself, as well as its origin and ways of execution. Emphasis is put on group as a composite body, which creates sounds as one. Several pieces from this collection, being one of the most important non notational pieces of musical avantgarde, are performed in this programme by a trio - accordeon, harp and electronics.
This programme was part of Ensemble Studio 6 2021 season, which was supported by the Ministry of culture of Serbia.
Programme:
Hildegard von Bingen, arr. Milana Zarić
Milica Djordjević
Calliope Tsoupaki
Isidora Žebeljan
Isidora Žebeljan
Pauline Oliveros
Musicians:
Milana Zarić
Vladimir Blagojević
Borislav Čičovački
Richard Barrett
O nobillissima viriditas, new realisation for harp and electronics (2021)
Misio bi čovek….zvezde, for accordeon solo (2015)
Song for Isadora, for obe solo (2020)
Felisija, love song for oboe and harp (2002/2014)
Bačka melanholija, for cor anglais and harp (2003/2020)