Daniela Braun & Mia Heikkinen: Metaphor for sympathy

Event Introduction

“When you look up at an acrobat walking on a tightrope, your stomach churns, you have to hold your breath, a tingling, creepy feeling of identification starts to spread through your body.” 

Viola d’amore, the love violin, is a distinctive instrument with a silvery, soft sound, created by a viola da gamba-like shape combined with the resonance of sympathetic strings. These metallic strings are not activated directly by the bow but resonate with the frequencies played. The phenomenon of physical resonance could be poetically described as a metaphor for sympathy.

The collection of 26 Galanterie, composed together around 1796 by the Bohemian composer-musicians Franz Götz and Joseph Fuchs, serves as an introduction to the world of the instrument’s various playing techniques and timbres. Götz was court conductor to the Archbishop of Olomouc, Anton Theodor Colloredo, but we know little about Fuchs.

In addition to these two 17th century composers, we have two contemporary composers who explore the possibilities of the instrument from a new perspective. The work to be premiered by composer Tiina Myllärinen builds on the idea of resonance growing as the sound gradually opens up from completely dry to very well resonant. In her lieder, composer Riikka Talvitie plays with the phenomenon of resonance, presenting it with a traditional experiment familiar from physics lessons.

Guided by the narrator, we reflect together on the nature of sympathy: who ultimately moves us?

The presentation language of the event is Finnish, translations into English are available (by QR code). Also suitable for children.

Programme:

Franz Götz (1755–1815) & Joseph Fuchs (1900–1997): solo works from 26 Galanterie (ca. 1796)
Riikka Talvitie (*1970): Sympaattinen värähtely (Symphatetic Vibrations) (2024) for soprano and viola d’amore
Tiina Myllärinen (*1979): new work for viola d’amore
Riikka Talvitie (*1970): Lehdet (Leaves) (2024) for soprano and viola d’amore

Performers:

Daniela Braun, viola d’amore
Mia Heikkinen, soprano/narrator
Tiina Myllärinen, composition
Riikka Talvitie, composition
Harry Salmenniemi, poems
Riikka Talvitie & Daniela Braun, screenplay

Supported by:

TAIKE, MES