ICONS

In this programme, BL!NDMAN provides a sampling of the unique timbres that the specific line-ups can realise autonomously and together: saxophone quartet, string quartet, percussion quartet, piano and electronics.

The early minimal repertoire was basic material for many choreographers, such as Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker and Wim Vandekeybus with whom Eric Sleichim, BL!NDMAN’s artistic director, had his first collaborations. The material chosen here is highly representative of the various techniques used by the icons of this movement. The repertoire brings a wider audience that finds it difficult to find its way to contemporary classical music, to a different oeuvre from the iconic works of ‘classical music’.

BL!NDMAN also finds a connection here with its demarche towards renewing ‘old music’; minimal music draws inspiration from the oldest polyphony techniques. The solo works combine the virtuosity of the soloists with the use of electronics, while in the tutti works the instruments and the powerful harmony of the entire BL!NDMAN ensemble offer the audience a new perspective.

The choice of relatively well-known and, more importantly, lesser-known works by Steve Reich, Philip Glass and Terry Riley, the three icons of repetitive music, gives existence to a triple album that immediately attracted the interest of major record label Warner Classics. Released on 14 April 2023.
 
TEXTE FRANÇAIS
 
Programme Music with Changing Parts Blender Festival Kortrijk