defunensemble: Surroundings

Event Introduction

The defunensemble will, at its G Livelab concert, be contemplating modes of existence in our collective reality. Have we become estranged from ourselves, our natural surroundings or each other? What sorts of worlds and modes of existence constantly surround us? The works at this concert address these questions in many ways.

In the second half of the concert, Sami Klemola will perform a work called Umwelt he has composed for modular synthesizers. The word “Umwelt” denotes the way each organism, animal or being perceives its surroundings. The concept was coined by the German biologist Jakob von Uexküll, who conducted research in Estonia in the early 20th century. According to him, every organism has its own Umwelt, i.e. perception of its environment and the interaction of the environment with that organism. The same environment may therefore look completely different to, for example, a human or an insect, because their observations and needs differ. The work reflects the way different organisms experience their environment. It was composed with a grant from the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation.

NB! During the intermission, Tuuli Lindeberg will interview the evening’s composers Juhani Nuorvala and Sami Klemola (in English).

Programme notes (in English) »

Programme:

Áki Ásgeirsson (*1975, IS):  492° (2024) (8 min) Finnish premiere
Juhani Nuorvala: Three Flashes from Flash Flash (2005/2020) (libretto Juha Siltanen) 1. You’re like someone (E’s aria) 2. The closer he comes (C’s aria) 3. I don’t really like to watch myself (A’s aria)
Yuri Umemoto (*2002, JPN):  aug.hocket (2023) (10 min) Finnish premiere
Arash Yazdani (*1985, IR):  Instruction Manual of How To Learn Stop Worrying and Love The Bomb in 5 Minutes (2019) (12 min) Finnish premiere
Carola Bauckholt (*1959, GER): Vakuum Lieder (2017) (8 min) Finnish premiere
Raven Chacon (*1977, US): Round (2007) (10 min) Finnish premiere

—

Sami Klemola (*1973, FI): Umwelt I-III (2024-25) (40 min) Finnish premiere

Performers:

defunensemble
Tuuli Lindeberg, soprano (Three Flashes from Flash Flash)

Supported by:

Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Music Finland & City of Helsinki

Map