photo: Aphex Twin, press materials
Polish composer Krzysztof Penderecki teamed up with legendary techno artist Aphex Twin and Jonny Greenwood, Radiohead’s guitarist, to create an unprecedented musical performance at the European Culture Congress in Wroclaw, southwest Poland
Krzysztof Penderecki is one of Poland’s most renowned composers of modern times, who first gained international acclaim for his "Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima" (1960). Aphex Twin is a prominent figure in the contemporary electronic music scene – he is the fist techno artist whose works have been transcribed and arranged for orchestra and performed around the world (including by the London Sinfonietta and Alarm Will Sound). Jonny Greenwood is the lead guitarist for the three-time Grammy Award winning, alt-rock group Radiohead. Penderecki, Aphex Twin and Greenwood performed two concerts – the first focusing on Penderecki-Greenwood collaborations and the second featuring world premiers of Penderecki’s works remixed by Aphex Twin.
The programme of the two concerts in Wrocław included three compositions by Penderecki: "Polymorphia for strings", "Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima" and "Canon for strings". All these works, written for strings (in the latter case, for strings and tape delay), come from 1960-1962, the avant-garde years of the composer’s life. Both Aphex Twin and Jonny Greenwood will invoke that period in their music. "Polymorphia" – performed for the first time 50 years ago – has become their common source of inspiration. Aphex Twin is composing "Polymorphia Reloaded" while Jonny Greenwood - "48 Responses to Polymorphia"; both compositions will have their world premiere in Wrocław.
"Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima" has been chosen mainly because of its relations with Jonny Greenwood’s "Popcorn Superhet Receiver" (inspired by Penderecki’s music) and Aphex Twin’s also will present a remix of that piece by the Polish composer. Concerts will be supplemented with Penderecki’s "Canon" for 52 strings and tape delay, two sets by Aphex Twin, and a piece from Jonny Greenwood’s soundtrack "There Will Be blood". The first concert (Penderecki/Greenwood) will be more ‘classical’, the other one (Penderecki/Aphex Twin) will have a more ‘rave’ like nature.
Programme of the September 9 concert
Krzysztof Penderecki "Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima" (1960–61)
Jonny Greenwood "Popcorn Superhet Receiver" (2005, Polish premiere)
Krzysztof Penderecki "Canon For Strings" (1962)
Jonny Greenwood "Future Markets" from the "There Will Be blood" soundtrack (2007, Polish premiere)
Krzysztof Penderecki "Polymorphia" (1961)
Jonny Greenwood "48 Responses to Polymorphia" (2011, world premiere)
Krzysztof Penderecki – conductor
Marek Moś – conductor
AUKSO Tychy Chamber Orchestra
Programme of the September 10 concert
Krzysztof Penderecki "Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima"(1960–61)
Aphex Twin "Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima remix" (2011, world premiere)
Krzysztof Penderecki "Canon for Strings" (1962)
Aphex Twin "AFX set"
Krzysztof Penderecki "Polymorphia" (1961)
Aphex Twin "Polymorphia Reloaded" (2011, world premiere)
Aphex Twin
Krzysztof Penderecki – conductor
Marek Moś – conductor
OCT AVA ensemble+
AUKSO Tychy Chamber Orchestra
Curator: Filip Berkowicz
Executive Producer: event-factory
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