Music Nova Consort presents:
Patterns in a Chromatic Field (untitled for cello and piano, 1981) Morton Feldman (1926-1987) Dan Weinstein, Cello Shira Legmann, Piano
I wanted sounds to be a metaphor, that they could be as free as a human being might be free (...) that they should breathe (...) that you shouldn't know how it's made, that you shouldn't know if there's a system, that you shouldn't know anything about it." “My whole generation was hung up on the 20 to 25 minute piece. It was our clock. We all got to know it, and how to handle it. As soon as you leave the 20-25 minute piece behind, in a one-movement work, different problems arise. Up to one hour you think about form, but after an hour and a half it's scale. Form is easy - just the division of things into parts. But scale is another matter. You have to have control of the piece - it requires a heightened kind of concentration. Before, my pieces were like objects; now, they're like evolving things.
Morton Feldman
Patterns in a Chromatic field is a broad masterpiece for cello and piano, 80 minutes long, and one of the most important pieces written for this instrumentation in the 20th century. The piece was written in 1981 and is still considered to be one of the mysterious and enigmatic works of Morton Feldman. In this piece Feldman examines the boundaries of time, color and sound, and transform these elements into flexible and fluid materials, by simulating a process of breathing in which the piece is slowly ever-expending or on the contrary, suddenly bursting out impatiently. The piece hence is a unique conscious-listening experience. Feldman Creates what he calls a "Time Canvas", in which the varied time structures are used as primary colours. Those colors are inter-categories: they are between time and space, between music and painting, and in this space enters the orchestration: Cello and Piano, that make the colors function through their dialogue. Feldman uses patterns as the base for his material process - a sharp statement against everything which is dramatic in music: there is no part more important than the other in this piece and no hierarchy in form. Every pattern is a small entity which he can augment or diminish suddenly and without preparations. With a precise, non-aleatoric ecriture Feldman controls profound nuances of silence, statics and tension.
"Those who attended the concert of Musica Nova last thursday could have feel this wonder. in silence, almost without move, the pianist Shira Legmann and the cellist Dan Weinstein played 'Patterns in a chromatic field', Morton Feldman's piece from 1981...in which, since from the beginning, became their sound as a chariots to an inner voyage". Noam Ben-Zeev, Haaretz daily, 28.11.2011
(photo: Daniel Bar-On)
Pianist Shira Legmann divides her time between Israel and Europe and performs as solosit and chamber music player. She is a member of Musica nova Consort in Israel since 2007, and of Soundinitiative, a new Paris based ensemble. She is well involved in projects combining contemporary music with plastic and video art. Her last collaboration included music in the London music-in-fashion festival with the video artist Katherina Jebb, a soundtrack to the radio play "Galut (diaspora)" with the duo "Duprass" and concerts with Italian flutist, Mario Caroli. Her performances had been renowned in the press in Paris, Boston and Tel Aviv.
(photo from 'Patterns a in Chromatic Field', Loushy Art & Projects, 14.4.2012)
Dan Weinstein is a versatile musician which performs as soloist and chamber musician. he participates regularly in inter-disciplinary projects combing the dance, theatre and contemporary and improvised music. He is a member of Musica nova Consort in Israel since 2007, and of Soundinitiative, a new Paris based ensemble. Performed many israeli premiers and collaborated with musicians and composers like Steve Reich, Gia Cancelli, Betsy Jolas, John Zorn among others. Records regularly for the Israeli Radio and for the european broadcasting service.
(photo from 'Patterns in a Chromatic Field', Loushy Art & Projects, 14.4.2012)
For the last 22 years the ‘Musica Nova’ ensemble has been presenting the Israeli audience all that is new and contemporary in the Israeli and worldwide experimental music scene. The renewed ensemble changed and updated its presentations constantly in accordance with to social changes and processes which form the fabric of modern living. The ensemble’s members comprise of the finest performers and specialists in the field and currently include a group of cross platform artists, from musicians to video artists and choreographers; in addition to being top notch musicians they bring with them wide varieties of additional capabilities that include the use of technology and improvisation. Artistic Director: Prof. Amnon Wolmann
Video Links: Israeli Premiere, 24.11.2011: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PwARze03kA Loushy art & Projects, 14.4.2012: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYwC2igiHB4&feature=relmfu
Technical Notes: 'Patterns in a chromatic field' is a musical event that can be performed in the regular concert hall or in alternative venues such as galleries and other. since the acoustic aspect of the piece is essential for the execution of the event, no amplification is needed but a suitable resonating hall and suitable grand piano is imperative. The staging is a classical piano-cello setup facing the audience and soft lighting. in case of a non-stage performance, audience can sit in a not-ordered manner, in which chairs are spread around the hall and public can change sitting during the performance. a movement of the audience in the space while performing is encouraged. Contact: Dan Weinstein weinst.dan@gmail.com +972 54 800 5086 Shira Legmann shiralegmann@gmail.com +972 50 666 0848 or +33 6 65 40 60 72