tag:,2008:/17 2008-04-26T15:58:02Z The Organ - The Emperor of Instruments... Movable Type 3.35 tag:www.spire.org.uk,2008://17.1434 2008-04-21T16:45:31Z 2008-04-26T15:58:02Z

To mark the centenary of the birth of Norwegian composer Geir Tveit, The Harding Tonar festival has invited Spire to contribute various works based on his compositions. BJNilsen | Philip Jeck | Charles Matthews | Jana Winderen | Marcus...

Field www.field.nu To mark the centenary of the birth of Norwegian composer Geir Tveit, The Harding Tonar festival has invited Spire to contribute various works based on his compositions. BJNilsen | Philip Jeck | Charles Matthews | Jana Winderen | Marcus Davidson et al. will take part in a live event at various times on 21st June 2008 in Norheimsund, Norway. A full programme can be downloaded here and tickets can be bought here]]> tag:www.spire.org.uk,2008://17.162 2008-01-31T08:22:20Z 2008-01-31T08:23:18Z

Yes we have been bootlegged! Here you can find out more. Its from Ars Electronica 2006......

Field www.field.nu Here you can find out more. Its from Ars Electronica 2006...]]> tag:www.spire.org.uk,2007:/new//17.124 2007-11-11T16:20:39Z 2007-11-11T16:22:13Z

The Organ - The Emperor of Instruments "The tall peaceful trees would be like the pipes of a great organ…" (Claude Debussy)...

Field www.field.nu The Organ - The Emperor of Instruments "The tall peaceful trees would be like the pipes of a great organ…" (Claude Debussy)]]> The Organ - The Emperor of Instruments "The tall peaceful trees would be like the pipes of a great organ…" (Claude Debussy) It is impossible to underestimate the influence of the organ on the history of music and sound. From its earliest inception as the Hydraulis, to the bellows organs of the late Roman period, its absence from western music until the 8th Century to its development during the Middle Ages, the organ developed along with technological progress; the Portative Organ was portable; the Positive Organ could play polyphonic music and could rest on a table; and the Church Organ, which played the lowest and loudest notes and was permanently built into churches. But it was not until at least the tenth century that Church approval was given for Christian use of the organ. It would be churlish to ignore the religious use of the instrument, but we should remember that for the first thousand years of use, the organ was not directly associated with the Church. Its acceptance by the Christian authorities had as much to do with absorbing or allying to sectarian political power [no jokes about who has the biggest organ please!] as the obvious manipulation of the audience when the instrument's sonic power was understood. Having spent many enforced hours in churches or chapels when I was younger, listening to and studying the organ was often the only relief from the tedium of the church service itself. But it was also a source of great frustration that the organ players clearly never pushed the instrument to its limits, although the school organist loved nothing more than to break into a solo voluntary. Obviously they were as bored as I was. Being fortunate enough to spend plenty of downtime with some of the most interesting sound explorers around, the subject of producing a compilation where the tracks were all either inspired by or more directly influenced by the organ has been frequently aired over the years. The conversations were always animated and expansive. The organ works of Arvo Pärt, particularly those performed by Christopher Bowers-Broadbent, a pupil of Richard Rodney Bennett at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and others have reached a wider non-classical audience. So Benny Nilsen was inspired to visit St. Mary's Church, Warwick and work with one of England's finest, Charles Matthews. Crawling around inside the instrument, positioning microphones most appropriately in the Church, or 'capturing' the psalms composed by Marcus Davidson, Nilsen explored the possibilities with all the familiar lusts of the avant-garde. As the brief widened, so did the responses… some contributors referred to earlier versions of the organ and its often highly political usage, others explored aged instruments themselves. Some studied the effects of the sounds produced on the physique and the psyche, and others conceptualised the brief and either built their own or recorded natural or man-made phenomena which utilised the same basic process - wind through pipes. But it is impossible not to be drawn upward, whether towards the spire of the church or cathedral or to the huge and daunting forest of pipes themselves. The organ dwarfs all comers, and unlike other instruments, it is this non-musical element which makes the organ stand apart. [MSCHarding]]]> tag:www.spire.org.uk,2007://17.123 2007-11-11T16:13:23Z 2008-04-12T12:20:06Z

Here is a full list of Spire Live programmes since 2004......

Field www.field.nu Here is a full list of Spire Live programmes since 2004... 9. Spire Live in Norheimsund 21st June 2008 Hardingtonar Festival, Norheimsund, Norway Marcus Davidson Philip Jeck Charles Matthews BJNilsen Jana Winderen
8. Spire Live in York Minster 20th January 2007 York Minster, York Bells: York Minster Society of Change Ringers Main Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson Fennesz Philip Jeck BJNilsen Soloists: Robert Millner, John Beaumont & Amy Moore 1300-1600 Leif Inge - Installation: Bach's Toccata and Fugue The West Tower: 16.00 - 17.15 and 18.15 - 19.00 York Minster Society of Change Ringers: performing examples of “methods” - some of the earliest of bell ringing patterns, including Grandsire and Stedman Caters. Spire part one: 1900 - 1950 Charles Matthews, Chamber Organ: Anon (from the Buxheim Organbook, c.1460): Annabasanna Marcus Davidson, Main Organ & 3 soloists: The Grey Book [1st performance] The Chapterhouse: Fennesz Charles Matthews, Main Organ & Robert Millner, Tenor: Om Mani (Marcus Davidson) Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Maurice Duruflé: Toccata Interval: Plainchant sung by John Beaumont: The Play of Herod Spire part two: 2000-2050 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Giacinto Scelsi: In Nomine Lucis The Nave: Philip Jeck Marcus Davidson: Main Organ & Tape: The Passing [1st performance] Charles Matthews, Main Organ, Marcus Davidson, Grand Piano, Robert Millner, Tenor: Focus: La Cathédrale de Strasbourg [Thijs van Leer] arr. Marcus Davidson Interval: Plainchant sung by John Beaumont: The Play of Herod [cont.] Spire part three: 2100-2150 Marcus Davidson, Main Organ: Gorécki: Kantata for Organ op. 26 The Knave: BJNilsen Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Charles Spinks: 3 Arabesques Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Arvo Pärt: Pari Intervallo 3 Soloists: Philippe de Vitry: Adesto-Firmissime-Alleluia (from the Roman de Fauvel, c.1315) this is repeated by: Charles Matthews, Chamber Organ: Philippe de Vitry: Adesto-Firmissime-Alleluia (keyboard version from the Robertsbridge Codex, c.1360)
7. Spire Live in Linz 2nd September 2006 St. Florian, Linz [Ars Electronica] The Brückner Organ: Charles Matthews & Robert Kovacs Fennesz Philip Jeck Organoise Morning concert 11 am - 11:30 am: Charles Matthews, Cabinet Organ: Estampie [from the Robertsbridge Codex] Robert Kovacs, Organ: J.S.Bach - Toccata and Fugue in F major Charles Matthews, Organ: Liana Alexandra - Consonances III Leif Inge - Installation: Bach's Toccata and Fugue Evening concert 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm: Charles Matthews, Organ: Anton Bruckner - Scherzo from Symphony no.2 (transcription by Erwin Horn) Philip Jeck Robert Kovacs, Organ: Franz Schmidt - Toccata in C major Charles Matthews, Organ: Robert Schumann - Fugue no. 1 on Bach, and Study no.4 Robert Kovacs, Organ: Improvisation Fennesz Charles Matthews, Organ: Francis Routh - Mystery Charles Matthews, Organ: Arvo Pärt - Pari Intervallo Organoise
6. Spire Live in Amsterdam 24th June 2006 Oude Kerk, Amsterdam [The Holland Festival] The Great Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson Transept Organ: Marcus Davidson Cabinet Organ: Charles Matthews Grand Piano: Marcus Davidson & Cor Fuhler Soloist: Robert Millner Fennesz Philip Jeck Organoise 2300 Charles Matthews, Cabinet Organ: John Bull: In Nomine 2306 Marcus Davidson, Transept Organ & Robert Millner, Tenor: Laudate Dominum 2311 Fennesz 2332 Marcus Davidson, Transept Organ & Robert Millner, Tenor: Chorale 2334 Charles Matthews, The Great Organ: J S Bach: Prelude on Jesus Christus, unser Heiland 2338 Charles Matthews, The Great Organ: Sem Dresden: Toccata, Chorale & Fugue 2350 Cor Fuhler, Grand Piano 0009 Marcus Davidson, The Great Organ: Gorécki: Kantata for Organ op. 26 0025 Charles Matthews, The Cabinet Organ: Sweelinck: Fantasia Chromatica 0034 Marcus Davidson, Grand Piano: Elergy 0042 Charles Matthews, Transept Organ & Robert Millner, Tenor: Daan Manneke: Zeven Vocalises voor Middenstem 0053 Philip Jeck 0125 Charles Matthews, Chamber Organ: Robertsbridge Codex: Estampie [c.1335] 0133 Charles Matthews, The Great Organ, Marcus Davidson, Grand Piano & Robert Millner, Tenor: Focus: La Cathédrale de Strasbourg [Thijs van Leer] arr. Marcus Davidson 0142 Ensemble: The Great Organ, Transept Organ, Cabinet Organ, Grand Piano & Electronics: Spire Live: Organoise
5. Spire Live in Jesmond 13th May 2006 St. George's Church, Jesmond Main Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson Portable Organ: Marcus Davidson & BJNilsen Soloist: Robert Millner Fennesz Philip Jeck BJNilsen Organoise 1830 Charles Matthews, Main Organ & Robert Millner, Tenor: JS Bach: Komm, heiliger Geist 1837 Philip Jeck 1918 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Max Reger: Introduction & Passacaglia in F minor 1930 Charles Matthews, Main Organ & Robert Millner, Tenor: Marcus Davidson: Om Mani 1940 Marcus Davidson, Main Organ: Henryk Gorécki: Kantata for Organ op. 26 1955 BJNilsen: Chamber Organ & Electronics 2030 Interval 2100 Charles Matthews, Main Organ & Robert Millner, Tenor: JS Bach: Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend 2107 Fennesz 2142 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Sofia Gubaidulina: hell und dunkel 2150 Marcus Davidson, Main Organ & Robert Millner, Tenor: Laudate Dominum 2200 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Maurice Duruflé: Toccata 2210 Marcus Davidson, Main Organ: Arvo Pärt: Pari Intervallo 2215 Ensemble: Main Organ, Chamber Organ & Electronics: Spire Live: Organoise
4. Spire Live in Leeds 12th May 2006 Leeds Town Hall [FuseLeeds06] Main Organ & Portable Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson Soloist: Robert Millner Fennesz BJNilsen Organoise 1930 Charles Matthews, Chamber Organ: Robertsbridge Codex: Estampie (l) [c.1335] 1940 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Ronald Perrin: A Spanish Toccata 1945 Marcus Davidson, Main Organ: Gorécki: Kantata for Organ op. 26 2000 BJNilsen 2030 Charles Matthews, Main Organ & Robert Millner, Tenor: Arnold Cooke: Boat Song [music by Arnold Cooke, words by John Davidson] 2040 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Max Reger: Introduction & Passacaglia in F minor 2100 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Giacinto Scelsi: In Nomine Lucis 2110 Ensemble: Main Organ, Chamber Organ & Electronics: Spire Live: Organoise 2130 Interval 2150 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Maurice Duruflé: Toccata 2200 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Sofia Gubaidulina: hell und dunkel 2210 Marcus Davidson, Main Organ & BJNilsen, Chamber Organ/Electronics: Davidson/Nilsen: Duet 2225 Charles Matthews, Main Organ & CD: Jonathan Harvey: Toccata 2230 Marcus Davidson, Main Organ & Robert Millner, Tenor: Marcus Davidson: Laudate Domine 2235 Fennesz 2310 Marcus Davidson, Main Organ: Arvo Part: Pari Intervallo 2325 Charles Matthews, Chamber Organ: Robertsbridge Codex: Estampie (ll) [c.1335] 1900-2330 Leif Inge [The Court Room] Installation: Bach's Toccata and Fugue
3. Spire Live in Brussels 7th May 2006 St. Michel & St. Gudula Cathedral [Les Nuits Botaniques] Main Organ: Charles Matthews & Xavier Deprez Portable Organ: Charles Matthews Philip Jeck Fennesz Les Musiques Nouvelles 2000 Charles Matthews, Chamber Organ: Robertsbridge Codex: Estampie (l) [c.1335] 2008 Xavier Deprez, Main Organ & Musiques Nouvelles, Strings: Arvo Pärt, Fratres 2020 Xavier Deprez, Main Organ & Musiques Nouvelles, Strings: Henryk Gorécki: Concerto for Keyboard 2046 Philip Jeck 2103 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Giacinto Scelsi: In Nomine Lucis 2106 Christian Fennesz 2136 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Maurice Duruflé: Toccata 2146 Xavier Deprez, Main Organ & Musiques Nouvelles, strings: Jean-Paul Dessy: Drawn by Drones for six hands, three feet and a pencil 2152 Charles Matthews, Chamber Organ: Robertsbridge Codex: Estampie (ll) [c.1335] The original programme for the event may be downloaded here
2. Spire Live in Göteborg 4th October 2005 Masthuggs Church [GAS Festival] Main Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson Soloist: Robert Millner Fennesz Philip Jeck BJNilsen Interval: Henrik Rylander & Leif Elggren 2000 Philip Jeck 2045 J S Bach - Passacaglia [Organ: Charles Matthews] 13:00 Rune Lindblad - Death of the Moon [Organ: Marcus Davidson/Electronics: BJNilsen] 8:30 Franz Lizst - Les Morts [Organ: Charles Matthews/Tenor: Rob Millner] 7:30 Marcus Davidson - The Beeldenstorm [Organ: Charles Matthews/Tenor: Rob Millner. Lyrics: Mike Harding] 5:00 Sven-Eric Johanson - Sonata [Organ: Charles Matthews] 7:00 Marcus Davidson - Standing Wave [Organ: Marcus Davidson] 12:00 2145 BJNilsen 2230 Interval: Chamber Music by Leif Elggren & Henrik Rylander 2245 Anonymous - Estampie: from the Robertsbridge Codex, 1360 [Organ: Charles Matthews] 8:00 Enrico Bossi – Scherzo in G minor [Charles Matthews] 5:30 Kurt Atterberg - Preludium et Fuga [Charles Matthews] 5:15 Marcus Davidson – Om Mani Padme [Organ: Charles Matthews/Tenor: Rob Millner] 5:15 Jehan Alain - Litanies [Charles Matthews] 5:00 Arvo Pärt - Pari Intervallo [Organ: Charles Matthews] 5:33 2330 Fennesz
1. Spire Live in Geneva 5th September 2004 Cathedral Saint Pierre [La Batie Festival] Main Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson La Petite Chapelle: Fennesz & BJNilsen The Crypt: Philip Jeck 1930 Charles Matthews plays: Olivier Messiaen - Soixante-quatre durées, from Livre d'orgue André Jolivet - Hymne a l'Univers Marcus Davidson - Organ Psalm no.3 Liana Alexandra - Consonances III Marcus Davidson - Opposites Attract Olivier Messiaen - Apparition de l'Eglise eternelle 2040 Marcus Davidson plays Henryk Gorecki - Kantata for organ Op. 26 2100 BJNilsen 2200 Philip Jeck 2300 Fennesz]]> tag:www.spire.org.uk,2007:/new//17.121 2007-11-11T15:52:56Z 2008-04-21T16:49:18Z

Here is a full list of Spire Live events since 2004......

Field www.field.nu Here is a full list of Spire Live events since 2004... 1. Spire Live in Geneva 5th September 2004 Cathedral Saint Pierre [La Batie Festival] Main Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson La Petite Chapelle: Fennesz & BJNilsen The Crypt: Philip Jeck 2. Spire Live in Göteborg 4th October 2005 Masthuggs Church [GAS Festival] Main Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson Soloist: Robert Millner Fennesz Philip Jeck BJNilsen Interval: Henrik Rylander & Leif Elggren 3. Spire Live in Brussels 7th May 2006 The Saint Michael and Saint Gudula Cathedral, Brussels [Les Nuits Botaniques] Main Organ: Charles Matthews & Xavier Deprez Fennesz Philip Jeck Musiques Nouvelles with Jean-Paul Dessy 4. Spire Live in Leeds 12th May 2006 Leeds Town Hall [Fuse Festival] Main Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson Soloist: Robert Millner Fennesz BJNilsen Installation: Leif Inge 5. Spire Live in Jesmond 13th May 2006 St. George's Church, Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne Main Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson Soloist: Robert Millner Fennesz Philip Jeck BJNilsen 6. Spire Live in Amsterdam 24th June 2006 Oude Kerk [Holland Festival] Main Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson Soloist: Robert Millner Fennesz Philip Jeck Cor Fuhler 7. Spire Live in Linz 2nd September 2006 St. Florian [Ars Electronica] The Brückner Organ: Charles Matthews & Robert Kovács Fennesz Philip Jeck Installation: Leif Inge 8. Spire Live in York 20th January 2007 York Minster The Grand Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson Fennesz Philip Jeck BJNilsen Soloists: John Beaumont, Robert Millner & Amy Moore Piano: Marcus Davidson Installation: Leif Inge 9. Spire Live in Norheimsund 21st June 2008 Harding Tonar Festival 2008 BJNilsen Philip Jeck Jana Winderen Charles Matthews Marcus Davidson]]> tag:www.spire.org.uk,2007:/new//17.120 2007-11-11T15:44:57Z 2008-04-14T17:04:06Z

Spire Live - Fundamentalis Autofact FACT 12/Touch Tone 28 Double LP Vinyl only Art Direction & Design by Jon Wozencroft This release will be available in April 2008 from the TouchShop here...

Field www.field.nu Spire Live - Fundamentalis Autofact FACT 12/Touch Tone 28 Double LP Vinyl only Art Direction & Design by Jon Wozencroft This release will be available in April 2008 from the TouchShop here]]> Spire Live - Fundamentalis is a collection of live tracks recorded at various Spire events held throughout 2005 and 2006. Released in association with US label, Autofact, Touch presents a selection of tracks performed by the main performers of Spire: Fennesz | Philip Jeck | BJNilsen | Charles Matthews | Marcus Davidson. Improvised pieces from Fennesz, BJNilsen and Philip Jeck contrast with a performance by Charles Matthews of a scored composition by Italian composer Giacinto Scelsi, 'In Nomine Lucis', and Marcus Davidson's self-penned 'Standing Wave', which ends side two with a locked groove. Cut to preserve and enhance the bottom end frequencies, Fundamentalis is not merely a document; the tension between and within the individual pieces is palpable. Fennesz's set "...evokes the rolling centuries in all their pain and beauty, leaving us at once becalmed and energised, but never oppressed under the weight of time." Electronics breathe new life not only into the organ, but also into the setting. But successor does not mean replacement. Ultimately, it's the majestic sound of the organ, so steeped in centuries of tradition, that one remembers above all else. Spire is one of the most innovative projects around, drawing on the full canon of organ works, from the very first annotation in the Robertsbridge Codex from the 14th Century, to max msp patches and software sampling... With two CD releases and 9 performances in cathedrals and churches throughout Europe, Spire remains a potent live force in harnessing the sounds of the ages. Track Listing: Side One Philip Jeck - Live in St. Michel & St. Gudula Cathedral, Brussels [as part of Les Nuits Botaniques] 7th May 2006 16:36 Side Two 1. Charles Matthews - Live in St. Michel & St. Gudula Cathedral, Brussels [as part of Les Nuits Botaniques] - plays Giacinto Scelsi: In Nomine Lucis 7th May 2006 11:29 2. Marcus Davidson - Live in Masthuggs Church, Göteborg [as part of the GAS Festival] - Standing Wave 4th October 2005 9:11 locked groove Side Three BJNilsen - Live in Masthuggs Church, Göteborg [as part of the GAS Festival] 4th October 2005 19:36 Side Four Fennesz - Live in St. Michel & St. Gudula Cathedral, Brussels [as part of Les Nuits Botaniques] 7th May 2006 16:02 Compiled and edited by Mike Harding October/November 2006 Cut by Jason at Transition, London, on a Neumann VSM 70 March 2007 tag:www.spire.org.uk,2007:/new//17.114 2007-11-10T15:22:58Z 2007-11-11T15:23:49Z

Charles Matthews, curator, pianist and organist for Spire, has a new website here...

Field www.field.nu here]]> tag:www.spire.org.uk,2007:/new//17.115 2007-11-09T15:23:26Z 2007-11-11T16:22:42Z

MTV are using tracks from 'Spire - organ music past present and future' [Touch # Tone 21], for a show: BJNilsen - Breathe Philip Jeck - Stops Biosphere - Visible Invisible The name of the show is “Room 401”. The...

Field www.field.nu Room 401”. The episode number is #104. The Touch tracks appeared in the Bus Crash segment within #104.]]> tag:www.spire.org.uk,2007:/new//17.119 2007-11-08T15:28:48Z 2007-11-29T18:15:18Z

Here is a full list of Spire CD & Vinyl Releases since 2004... Reviews can be read here Spire releases may be purchased from the TouchShop here...

Field www.field.nu here Spire releases may be purchased from the TouchShop here]]> Spire Live - Fundamentalis | Autofact 12/Touch Tone 28 Spire Live - Fundamentalis Autofact FACT 12/Touch Tone 28 Double LP Vinyl only Art Direction & Design by Jon Wozencroft Spire Live - Fundamentalis is a collection of live tracks recorded at various Spire events held throughout 2005 and 2006. Released in association with US label, Autofact, Touch presents a selection of tracks performed by the main performers of Spire: Fennesz | Philip Jeck | BJNilsen | Charles Matthews | Marcus Davidson. Improvised pieces from Fennesz, BJNilsen and Philip Jeck contrast with a performance by Charles Matthews of a scored composition by Italian composer Giacinto Scelsi, 'In Nomine Lucis', and Marcus Davidson's self-penned 'Standing Wave', which ends side two with a locked groove. Cut to preserve and enhance the bottom end frequencies, Fundamentalis is not merely a document; the tension between and within the individual pieces is palpable. Fennesz's set "...evokes the rolling centuries in all their pain and beauty, leaving us at once becalmed and energised, but never oppressed under the weight of time." Electronics breathe new life not only into the organ, but also into the setting. But successor does not mean replacement. Ultimately, it's the majestic sound of the organ, so steeped in centuries of tradition, that one remembers above all else. Spire is one of the most innovative projects around, drawing on the full canon of organ works, from the very first annotation in the Robertsbridge Codex from the 14th Century, to max msp patches and software sampling... With two CD releases and 9 performances in cathedrals and churches throughout Europe, Spire remains a potent live force in harnessing the sounds of the ages. Track Listing: Side One Philip Jeck - Live in St. Michel & St. Gudula Cathedral, Brussels [as part of Les Nuits Botaniques] 7th May 2006 16:36 Side Two 1. Charles Matthews - Live in St. Michel & St. Gudula Cathedral, Brussels [as part of Les Nuits Botaniques] - plays Giacinto Scelsi: In Nomine Lucis 7th May 2006 11:29 2. Marcus Davidson - Live in Masthuggs Church, Göteborg [as part of the GAS Festival] - Standing Wave 4th October 2005 9:11 locked groove Side Three BJNilsen - Live in Masthuggs Church, Göteborg [as part of the GAS Festival] 4th October 2005 19:36 Side Four Fennesz - Live in St. Michel & St. Gudula Cathedral, Brussels [as part of Les Nuits Botaniques] 7th May 2006 16:02 Compiled and edited by Mike Harding October/November 2006 Cut by Jason at Transition, London, on a Neumann VSM 70 March 2007
Spire Live in Geneva Cathedral | Touch # Tone 21 This release received an Honorary Distinction at Ars Electronica in 2006 Touch # Tone 21 DCD St. Pierre Cathedral, Geneva, was the crucible of the Reformation in 1534… The second release in the Spire series [cf Spire, organ works past, present & future, Touch # Tone 20, 2004] is more than a document of ‘Spire Live’, which took place as part of La Batie 2004, at St. Pierre Cathedral, Geneva, on 5th September 2004. Curated by Eric Linder, from La Batie, and Mike Harding, the dynamism of the event, where the audience rotated between 3 separate venues within the Cathedral precinct, is reflected in the individual recordings: Philip Jeck goes heavy metal in the crypt: BJNilsen comes over all moody in the side chapel, and Fennesz soothes and seduces in the same place. All this is set up by Charles Matthews and Marcus Davidson on the main organ [4 manifolds, computer operated] which dominates the time and place. Davidson plays Gorécki's extraordinary Kantata for organ, [full stops on max employed here] which segués into BJNilsen's ultra-heavy live organ and electronics next door. This follows Charles Matthews's excellent renditions of pieces by Jolivet and Alexandra which, as the text by Thierry Charollais says: "The event seemed provoking and iconoclastic in contrast to the severe and austere atmosphere of the cathedral. Though some of the musical pieces were audacious, the music focused mainly on spirituality. It generated a different perception of the organ pieces, thus modifying our perception of the cathedral and making the event truly exceptional." And to finish, Fennesz soothed us with sound. His set evoked the rolling centuries in all their pain and beauty, leaving us at once becalmed and energised, but never oppressed under the weight of time. Track Listing: CDOne 76:04 On the main organ in the cathedral: Charles Matthews plays tracks 1-4: 1. Marcus Davidson - Opposites Attract [10:05] 2. Marcus Davidson - Psalm for Organ 3 [1:24] 3. André Jolivet - Hymne à l'Universe [11:58] 4. Liana Alexandra - Consonances lll [6:52] Marcus Davidson plays track 5: 5. Henryk Gorécki – Kantata for organ op. 26 [15:42] In the side chapel: 6. BJNilsen - Live in La Petite Chapelle [29:59] CDTwo 69:06 In the crypt: Philip Jeck - Live in the Crypt [44:14] In the side chapel: Fennesz - Live in La Petite Chapelle [24:49]
Spire - Organ Works Past Present & Future | Touch # Tone 20 Touch # Tone 20 DCD 1st fruits of collaboration between Fennesz and Sparklehorse - recorded in Geneva by Christian Fennesz and Scott Minor * Touch regulars Biosphere, Philip Jeck, Benny Nilsen [Hazard], Chris Watson... * Newcomers include US free music composer and designer Tom Recchion, UK's Scott Taylor, Icelandic artists Finnbogi Petursson and Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson, and one of Sweden's premier performance artists Leif Elggren [The Sons of God, Firework Edition Records etc.], and one of the Kings of Elgaland-Vargaland * UK finest organist Charles Matthews and classical composer Marcus Davidson * Highly regarded Japanese field recordist Toshiya Tsunoda The story: The thought of producing a compilation where the tracks were all either inspired by or more directly influenced by the organ had been frequently aired over the years. The conversations were always animated and expansive. The organ works of Arvo PSrt, those performed by Christopher Bowers-Broadbent, a pupil of Richard Rodney Bennett at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and others, have reached a wider non-classical audience. Eventually Benny Nilsen arranged to visit St. Mary's Church, Warwick and work with one of England's finest, Charles Matthews. Crawling around inside the instrument, positioning microphones most appropriately in the Church, or 'capturing' the psalms composed by Marcus Davidson, Nilsen explored the possibilities with all the familiar lust of the avant-garde. As the brief widened, so did the responses... some contributors referred to earlier versions of the organ and its often highly political usage, others explored aged instruments themselves. Some studied the effects of the sounds produced on the physique and the psyche, others conceptualised the brief and either built their own or recorded natural or man-made phenomena which utilised the same basic process, wind through pipes. The organ represents the marriage between acoustic complexity and ritualised space. It is impossible not to be drawn upward, towards the spire of the church or cathedral, or to the huge and daunting forest of pipes themselves. The organ dwarfs all comers, and unlike other instruments, it is this non-musical element which makes the organ stand apart. Track Listing: CDOne 12 tracks - 52:10.21 1. Leif Elggren – Royal Organ 2. Z’EV – if only that love lets letting happen (organ music for organs) 3. Philip Jeck – Stops 4. Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson – Details of a New Discovery 5. Zephyr 6. Marcus Davidson – Organ Psalm V 7. Scott Minor/Fennesz - dwan 8. Finnbogi Pétursson – Diabolus 9. Biosphere – Visible Invisible 10. Toshiya Tsunoda – Layered 11. Tom Recchion – Shut-Eye Train 13. Lary Seven & Jeff Petersen - Disorganised CDTwo 5 tracks - 53:55.54 Track listing: 1. BJNilsen - Breathe 2. Scott Taylor - Droner 3. Jacob Kirkegaard- Epiludio Patetico: a tribute to Rued Langgaard 4. Ambarchi/Recchion - Triste Remake 5. Chris Watson - Askam Wind Cluster]]> tag:www.spire.org.uk,2007:/new//17.117 2007-11-07T15:25:04Z 2007-11-11T15:25:30Z

Fundamentalis [Autofact FACT 12/Touch Tone 28] Fundamentalis, a double vinyl release due later this year on Autofact, was cut at Transition, London, on 13th March 2007. Tracks from Spire Live in Gothenberg and Brussels by Fennesz, Philip Jeck, BJNilsen, Marcus...

Field www.field.nu here]]> tag:www.spire.org.uk,2007:/new//17.122 2007-10-11T14:58:03Z 2007-12-18T16:32:08Z

Artists who have performed at Spire events...

Field www.field.nu Artists who have performed at Spire events Marcus Davidson [Organ & Piano] Marcus Davidson is a composer, pianist/organist and musical director who studied composition with Vic Hoyland and Rhian Samuel. He has written and arranged for TV, radio and theatre, and specialises in accompanying for Ballet and Contemporary Dance. Recently performed works include 'Opposites Attract' for Organ performed by Charles Matthews at La Batie Festival, Geneva Cathedral, 2004. 'Cyclo-fantasia' for solo Piano, performed by Jose Senitio at The Warehouse, London, 2005, and 'Om Mani' for tenor and Organ performed by Robert Millner and ‘Standing Wave for Organ and Delay’ at the Gas Festival Stockholm 2005. In 1999 he was commissioned to write the finale for the Festival of Classical Greek Dance at the Royal Albert Hall in November of that year.
Leif Elggren [Electronics] Linköping-born Leif Elggren is a contemporary artist, active for over 25 years. His work runs the gamut of conceptual art, making Elggren something of a Swedish Marcel Duchamp. He thrives upon stark minimalism, yet there is a vivid humor and unique approach to ideological and political concerns that separates his work from that of his colleagues. Elggren became much more visible in the States through his Firework Edition label, a carefully curated distributor of print publications, records, and videos of Elggren-related endeavors.
Christian Fennesz [Electronics] Christian Fennesz uses guitar and laptop to create electronic soundscapes of enormous range and complexity. "Imagine the electric guitar severed from cliché and all of its physical limitations, shaping a bold new musical language." [City Newspaper, USA]. His densely layered compositions - anything but sterile computer experiments - have an inherent naturalism, evocative of light and atmosphere. His latest album, 'Venice' [Touch, 2004] has been hailed as a masterpiece, and is by some distance the label's best-selling CD.
Cor Fuhler [Piano] Amsterdam-based Cor Fuhler works in the field of electronic and improvised music. Piano is his main acoustic instrument, and he seeks to take it musically beyond usual perceptions, specializing in sustained sounds with use of various string stimulators: 12 ebows, rotating threads, spinning disks. Fuhler also manipulates sounds from turntables, linguaphones, springs etc and filters them through an analogue synth: the EMS Synthi AKS, his main electronic instrument. Curently he is working on a new analogue set up: the NIGLO 1. He often builds his own instruments/ instalations/ modifications such as the Keyolin: a violin with keys.
Leif Inge [Installation] Leif Inge is a conceptual artist whose installation works have incorporated various media including ice, light installation, earthworks, stained glass, as well as sound. Recent work has explored the possibilities of stretching sound over extended periods of time to create beautiful but thrilling and powerful soundscapes. The recent ‘9 Beet Stretch' - a 24 hour long concert with the time-stretched 9th Symphony by Ludwig van Beethoven – was an epic and compelling sound sculpture that reserved widespread critical acclaim. Inge lives and works in Oslo, Norway.
Philip Jeck [Turntables & Sampler] Philip Jeck is perhaps best known for his highly subversive work 'Vinyl Requiem' (Time Out Performance Award, 1993) with Lol Sargent, a performance for 180 Dansette record players, 12 slide- projectors and 2 movie-projectors. In his performances, recordings, and collaborations Jeck combines samples, loops and scratches from various analogue sources to create complex, highly involving and often moving soundscapes. He has released 4 albums on Touch since 1995.
Charles Matthews [Organ & Programmer] Charles Matthews was born in 1966 and studied at the Royal College of Music, London, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he was an organ scholar. His teachers have included Beryl Tichbon, Gwilym Isaac, David Pettit, Nicholas Danby, Patricia Carroll, Dr. Richard Marlow and Charles Spinks. From 1987 to 1989 he worked almost exclusively as a church organist. Since this time he has pursued a diverse and international career as organist, pianist, composer and teacher. In Spain his activities have mainly involved performances of piano chamber music; he also works each July on the Matisse International Music Course in El Escorial.Charles Matthews has won many awards, perhaps most notably in 1999 the first prize in the Ferenc Liszt Organ Competition in Budapest. His CD recordings present piano solos and chamber music by Sir Arnold Bax (1994, Olympia) and an organ recital from the Madeleine Church in Paris (2002, Priory). Currently he teaches organ at the Birmingham Conservatoire and is Organist of St. Catharine’s Church, Chipping Campden, England. In 2005 he inaugurated the new organ at the Auditorio in Tenerife, Canary Islands.
Robert Millner [Voice] Operatic tenor Robert Millner studied singing with Thomas Hemsley, Paul Hamburger and Franco Corelli. Touring internationally, he has sung the roles of Alfredo for Music Theatre London's Olivier Award-nominated production of La Traviata, Ferrando (Così fan tutte), Rodolfo (La Bohème) and Eisenstein (Der Fledermaus) among others. At the Hermitage in St Petersburg, he performed Britten's Serenade and he sang Turiddu in the inaugural performance of Cavalleria Rusticana at the Vietnam Opera House in Ho Chi Minh City.
Amy Moore [Voice]
BJNilsen [Electronics & Organ] Born in 1975. He has been active with experimental music since the early 90´s with various constellations. For the past 5 years he has been releasing records as Hazard on the UK labels Ash International and Touch, making music and sound for documentary film, television and commercials. He is focused on the sound of nature and its effect on humans, field recordings and the perception of time and space as experienced through sound, often electronically treated.
Henrik Rylander [Electronics] Henrik Rylander was born 1966 in Malmö, Sweden and he lives and works in Göteborg, Sweden. With Joachim Nordwall he formed The Skull Defekts, and is also a founder-member of Union Carbide and Audio Laboratory.
and the production team:
Mike Harding [Producer, Curator, Programmer & Conductor] He has been running Touch with Jon Wozencroft since 1981 and is the Curator and Producer of Spire.
Jana Winderen [Assistant Producer] Studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths College, London with a background in mathmatics and chemistry from the University in Oslo. She has since 1993 worked as an artist, curator and producer, initiating and producing several independent international art projects. Her most recent production was the seminar: Sound in the White Cube at UKS in colaboration with Maia Urstad, Freq_out 2 at Henie Onstad Kunstsenter and Generator.x conference at Atelier Nord. Her most recent art work is an interactive sound installation Hard Rain, recently exhibited at The Idea of North, at Dalhousie Art Gallery in Halifax, Canada.
Jon Wozencroft [Consultancy & Design] ]]> tag:www.spire.org.uk,2007://17.132 2007-07-10T13:10:24Z 2007-11-28T14:46:59Z

Robertsbridge Codex (control-click or right-click) Charles Matthews, Chamber Organ: Philippe de Vitry: Adesto-Firmissime-Alleluia (keyboard version from the Robertsbridge Codex, c.1360) [Spire Live in York Minster, 2007]...

Field www.field.nu Robertsbridge Codex (control-click or right-click) Charles Matthews, Chamber Organ: Philippe de Vitry: Adesto-Firmissime-Alleluia (keyboard version from the Robertsbridge Codex, c.1360) [Spire Live in York Minster, 2007]]]> tag:www.spire.org.uk,2007:/new//17.125 2007-07-08T15:40:51Z 2007-11-11T16:42:24Z

Email any enquiries into booking Spire - info [at] spire [dot] org...

Field www.field.nu Email any enquiries into booking Spire - info [at] spire [dot] org