Spire - organ music past, present & future

Featuring

Marcus Davidson & Charles Matthews [organ]
Christian Fennesz [laptop]
Philip Jeck [turntables] *
Robert Millner [tenor]
BJ Nilsen [chamber organ & electronics]
Leif Inge [sound installation] **
*exclusive to Spire Newcastle
**exclusive to Spire Leeds

Embracing landmark classical pieces and pioneering contemporary compositions, Spire presents an evening of bold exploration into the sonic possibilities of the organ by world-class musicians and composers.

In Spire, organist Charles Matthews, composer Marcus Davidson and operatic tenor Robert Millner play J S Bach, Henryk Gorécki, Arvo Pärt and others. BJNilsen combines real and sampled organ to create a sprawling sea of thunderous sound. Experimental musician Philip Jeck creates virtuoso turntable collages with organ sources from liturgy to rock and beyond.* Christian Fennesz fuses organ tones and electronics into an ethereal chorus. Conceptual artist Leif Inge’s expanded version of Bach’s organ composition creates a beautiful yet thrilling soundscape.**

Both Spire Newcastle and Spire Leeds include ensemble performances with main and chamber organs plus electronics. The World Premier of ‘Organoise’, composed and conducted by Curator Mike Harding, takes place at Leeds Town Hall. The entire ensemble performs a new piece which incorporates an element of improvisation into the score. The piece promises to push the ensemble and their instruments to the limit.

Mike Harding, curator of Spire, explains: "Some Spire contributors refer to earlier versions of the organ and its often highly political usage, others explore aged instruments themselves. Some study the effects of the sounds produced on the physique and the psyche, while others either build their own or record natural or man-made phenomena which utilised the same basic process - wind through pipes. 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 has always developed along with technological progress."

Spire is an essential event that embraces the past, present and future of the organ, pushing the instrument to its limits.

Tour dates

12 May 06 | fuseleeds06 | Town Hall, Leeds, UK
13 May 06 | St Georges Church, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Spire live is produced by Forma and curated by Touch as part of Touch 25

Presented by Forma & no-fi [Newcastle] and fuseleeds06 festival [Leeds]