Hommage III : Gavin Bryars and The Birth of Ambient
A special co-presentation with CKUT and Suoni per il Popolo. A benefit for CKUT’s “Dans la Rue” project.
In 1975, ambient music legend Brian Eno‘s Obscure Records label presented its first release – an album featuring two modern-day classics by Gavin Bryars. In the last concert in our tribute to this major artistic voice, Innovations en concert presents a live recreation of Obscure Records #1, featuring some of the most exciting voices on Montreal’s music scene.
Composed in 1969, The Sinking of the Titanic is a performative soundscape recreating reports of a band which played a hymn tune in the final moments of the ship’s sinking. The Titanic sank in her maiden voyage on April 15, 1912. 1,517 lives were lost- one of the deadliest disasters in naval history. In Bryars’ vision, the band continues to play as the ship sinks to the bottom of the sea, creating a moving tribute to human efforts ultimately conquered by the vastness and complexity of nature: a milestone which sounds as fresh and provocative today as when it was originally created.
Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet, composed in 1971, is based on a composition by an unknown composer. Constructed on a tape loop of an unknown homeless man singing a brief stanza, the work combines lush instrumental harmonies to create a testament to nobility and simple faith.
Novarumori was formed perform The Sinking of the Titanic at the 2012 Suoni per il popolo Festival, a performance which received considerable acclaim from audience and critics alike. Alain Brunet of La Presse wrote of this interpretation:
Bryars en a faitune évocation très contemporaine, très personnelle, d’une très grande finesse. Ténuité subtile, retenue exemplaire, horizontalité du discours, c’est ce qu’on retient essentiellement de cette interprétation remarquable.. Magnifique cohabitation entre musique de chambre et musique électronique, le tout sous la direction d’Isak Goldschneider. Bravo !
The ensemble is excited to return to the stage to further explore Gavin Bryars’ work, as well as to present a new work by Novarumori’s conductor Isak Goldschneider.
Novarumori
Sarah Albu – Voice // Amy Horvey – Trumpet // Catherine Turner, Guillaume Roy – Horn // Julie Houle – Tuba // Evan Tighe – Percussion // Sarah Pagé – Harp // Nick Kuepfer – Analogue electronica // Vergil Sharkya’ – Digital electronica // John Corban – Violin // Jasmine Schnarr, Jennifer Thiessen, Pemi Paull – Violas // J.C. Lizotte, Jane Chan – Cellos // Joel Kerr – Bass // Isak Goldschneider – Conductor
