Two days down, one to go! Here are a few highlights for the final day of Rewire 2019.
Instrumental Shifts is our second thematic programme and zeroes in on the many technological developments in process today. What effects these are having on the music we hear and on the ways we exist as a society? What is the role music of music in an increasingly technologically complex world? The programme opens with a keynote by Goldsmiths’ computing expert Dr. Rebecca Fiebrink, who will delve into the realms of machine learning algorithms to show how these systems are opening doors to new forms of human creative expression. Her keynote is followed by a performative-lecture by Finnish visual artist and curator Anna Mikkola, a talk by Italian philosopher and writer Federico Campagna, and a panel with three of the day’s performing artists: Dianne Verdonk, Jennifer Walshe and Memo Akten.
Ushering Instrumental Shifts into the realms of live performance, Sunday’s music programme kicks off at Korzo at 12:30 with Dianne Verdonk. A Dutch musician, composer and instrument builder, Verdonk takes the stage today to present La Diantenne, an electronic instrument that translates her own personal musical expressions into rich and colourful compositions.
Verdonk’s performance leads the way two a pair of unique live AI performances. The first, ULTRACHUNK is a spellbinding and deeply alarming improvisation duet between classically-trained vocalist Jennifer Walshe and her AI doppelganger – created by Memo Akten. In the second, London-based technologist and producer Ash Koosha takes the stage for the live debut of Yona, a virtual performer who uses AI and CGI to write, sing and perform her own music.
Korzo opens its doors at 12:45pm for a string of live premieres. In the first, Rwandan-born vocalist, composer and artist Aurélie Nyirabikali Lierman is joined by But What About for ‘Sogokuru’, a new work that explores contemporary forms of animism and how they persist despite the severe oppression of the colonial period. Later in the evening, Dutch artist Haron presents the world premiere of a new, commissioned performance for piano, electronics and spatialised sound that combines elements from his fascination debut ‘Wandelaar’ with new compositions, while pioneering British electronic musician Mark Fell performs ‘Hominim’, a new piece for electronic music, light, kinetic objects and human movement. Peppered in between are performances by celebrated experimental guitarist Bill Orcutt, Turkish sound artist Ipek Gorgun and Japanese producer Foodman.
Following on the heels of Nicolás Jaar’s Free 2 Move performance and vtgnike’s dj-set at Paard last night, we extend our exploration of Jaar’s Other People imprint with a showcase of label affiliates past, present and future. First up is Colombian sound artist Lucrecia Dalt, who channels her recent album ‘Anticlines’ into a live audiovisual collaboration with visual artist Alessandra Leone. At Koorenhuis, ‘mad musical scientist’ Pierre Bastien takes the stage with darkly, psychedelic London duo Tomaga, while visionary New York-based guitarist and Zs member Patrick Higgins showers Paard in his latest solo album, Dossier, and Bristol-based composer John Bence unleashes his powerful electroacoustic epics at the Oude Katholieke Kerk.
The old catholic parish church on Juffrouw Idastraat is back into the Rewire fold for the first time since 2015. It’s the scene for a trio of mesmerizing live performances in addition to John Bence’s electroacoustic epic. For the first, Ethiopian artist Sosena Gebre Eyesus introduces us to the soothing sounds of the Begena, one of the world’s oldest and most beguiling instruments, and her soulful, life-affirming incantations of Ethiopian Orthodox hymns. She’s followed by the rapturous ambient compositions of Taiwanese-born artist and musician Alex Zhang Hungtai and the mesmerising acoustic and electric guitar explorations of ‘new flamenco’ pioneer Refree.
Just before Refree gets started however, join Glasgow-based composer and producer Iona Fortune as she explores Eastern philosophies in the company of electronic drone choirNYX. Performing at the iconic Grote Kerk at 8pm, Iona Fortune & NYX conduct a liminal ceremony in which they re-embody digital instrumentation and live electronics into a euphoric collective experience.
This year’s grand finale unfolds in two identical parts. Taking the stage at Grote Kerk at 9:15 pm and again at 10:30pm, Nicolás Jaar concludes this year’s festivities with the world premiere of a new, commissioned ensemble performance under the title, Nicolás Jaar & Group. Embodying the full extent of his explorative approach, the Chilean-American producer will be joined by percussionist Valentina Magaletti, saxophonist Mette Henriette, pianist Johan Lindvall, and Hamlet Nazaretyan and Ivane Mkirtichyan on duduk, an ancient double-reed woodwind instrument that is indigenous to Armenia.
To ensure that all of our Rewire 2019 visitors have the chance to see this unique performance, we have asked Nicolás Jaar & Group to perform twice. If the first concert is full, be sure to check out Chris Corsano & Bill Orcutt at Koorenhuis or Refree at Oude Katholieke Kerk first, and return for round two.