An Ox on the Roof 59: The Ox in wartime #22.
An introduction to contemporary music in ordinary language.
Episode fifty-nine of An ox on the roof by Thea Derks, named after her book An ox on the roof: modern music after 1900 in a nutshell.
Russia’s war against Ukraine has been ongoing for over two years now, and unfortunately, the end is still not in sight. So today we will once again kick off with music from this country, which, contrary to some claims, does indeed belong to the European continent.
On 10 December 2021, Vitaliy Hodziatsky celebrated his 85th birthday in Kyiv. He is among the Ukrainian avant-gardists of the 1960s, who drew inspiration from innovators such as Schoenberg and Stravinsky. They disregarded the imposed Soviet aesthetics and challenged the regime with nonconformist music. In this broadcast, we will hear two solo piano pieces by Godziatzky.
The esteemed label Attacca continues its dedication to music by Dutch composers, releasing a diverse array of styles. Last year, they released the CD Liknon, featuring the eponymous ‘Bosch Requiem’ composed by Calliope Tsoupaki in 2019, commissioned by the contemporary music festival November Music. The solo parts are sung by countertenor Maarten Engeltjes and tenor Marcel Beekman. These two high voices accentuate the ‘angelic’ atmosphere of Tsoupaki’s composition, as envisioned by the composer.
Austrian composer Thomas Larcher is well known in the Netherlands. His music has been performed several times at NTRZaterdagMatinee and the Muziekgebouw. The Concertgebouw orchestra has also performed his music. Larcher is an expert in finding new sound colours, not shying away from extremes in dynamics. He used texts by German poet W.G. Sebald for Underzählt.
We will end this episode with a tribute to Ukraine: the fierce Glory to Ukraine by Iryna Aleksiychuk.
The 1st edition of An ox on the roof is sold out, but you can order the second edition on boekenbestellen.nl
1. Vitaliy Hodziatsky. Ballad, Tragic Prelude.
Yevgen Gromov, piano.
2. Calliope Tsoupaki [picture: Michiel van Nieuwkerk].
From ‘Liknon’ part 3: Light over which night never falls.
Maarten Engeltjes, countertenor. Marcel Beekman, tenor.
PRCT Amsterdam conducted by Manoj Kamps.
3. Thomas Larcher. Unerzählt.
Andrè Schuen, baritone. Daniel Heide, piano.
4. Iryna Aleksiychuk. Glory to Ukraine.
National Academic Symphonic Band of Ukraine.
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