Fundamentalis [Autofact FACT 12/Touch Tone 28]
Fundamentalis, a double vinyl release due later this year on Autofact, was cut at Transition, London, on 13th March 2007. Tracks from Spire Live in Gothenberg and Brussels by Fennesz, Philip Jeck, BJNilsen, Marcus Davidson & Charles Matthews will appear on the final release, due sometime in the summer. You can see pictures from the cut here
Artists who have performed at Spire events…
The 8th Spire took place on 20th January 2007 in York at York Minster
Performers:
Bells: York Minster Society of Change Ringers
Main Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson
Fennesz
Philip Jeck
BJNilsen
Soloists: Robert Millner, John Beaumont & Amy Moore
1300-1600 Leif Inge – Installation: Bach’s Toccata and Fugue
The West Tower:
16.00 – 17.15 and 18.15 – 19.00
York Minster Society of Change Ringers: performing examples of “methods” – some of the earliest of bell ringing patterns, including Grandsire and Stedman Caters.
Spire part one:
1900 – 1950
Charles Matthews, Chamber Organ: Anon (from the Buxheim Organbook, c.1460): Annabasanna
Marcus Davidson, Main Organ & 3 soloists: The Grey Book [1st performance]
The Chapterhouse: Fennesz
Charles Matthews, Main Organ & Robert Millner, Tenor: Om Mani (Marcus Davidson)
Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Maurice Duruflé: Toccata
Interval: Plainchant sung by John Beaumont: The Play of Herod
Spire part two:
2000-2050
Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Giacinto Scelsi: In Nomine Lucis
The Nave: Philip Jeck
Marcus Davidson: Main Organ & Tape: The Passing [1st performance]
Charles Matthews, Main Organ, Marcus Davidson, Grand Piano, Robert Millner, Tenor: Focus: La Cathédrale de Strasbourg [Thijs van Leer] arr. Marcus Davidson
Interval: Plainchant sung by John Beaumont: The Play of Herod [cont.]
Spire part three:
2100-2150
Marcus Davidson, Main Organ: Gorécki: Kantata for Organ op. 26
The Knave: BJNilsen
Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Charles Spinks: 3 Arabesques
Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Arvo Pärt: Pari Intervallo
3 Soloists: Philippe de Vitry: Adesto-Firmissime-Alleluia (from the Roman de Fauvel, c.1315)
this is repeated by: Charles Matthews, Chamber Organ: Philippe de Vitry: Adesto-Firmissime-Alleluia (keyboard version from the Robertsbridge Codex, c.1360)
The 7th Spire took place on 2nd September 2006 in Linz at St. Florian Monastery as part of Ars Electronica
The Brückner Organ: Charles Matthews & Robert Kovacs
Fennesz
Philip Jeck
Organoise
Morning concert 11 am – 11:30 am:
Charles Matthews, Cabinet Organ: Estampie [from the Robertsbridge Codex]
Robert Kovacs, Organ: J.S.Bach – Toccata and Fugue in F major
Charles Matthews, Organ: Liana Alexandra – Consonances III
Leif Inge – Installation: Bach’s Toccata and Fugue
Evening concert 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm:
Charles Matthews, Organ: Anton Bruckner – Scherzo from Symphony no.2 (transcription by Erwin Horn)
Philip Jeck
Robert Kovacs, Organ: Franz Schmidt – Toccata in C major
Charles Matthews, Organ: Robert Schumann – Fugue no. 1 on Bach, and Study no.4
Robert Kovacs, Organ: Improvisation
Fennesz
Charles Matthews, Organ: Francis Routh – Mystery
Charles Matthews, Organ: Arvo Pärt – Pari Intervallo
Organoise
The 6th Spire took place on 24th June 2006 at the Oude Kerk, Amsterdam as part of the The Holland Festival
Performers:
The Great Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson
Transept Organ: Marcus Davidson
Cabinet Organ: Charles Matthews
Grand Piano: Marcus Davidson & Cor Fuhler
Soloist: Robert Millner
Fennesz
Philip Jeck
Organoise
Full Programme:
2300 Charles Matthews, Cabinet Organ: John Bull: In Nomine
2306 Marcus Davidson, Transept Organ & Robert Millner, Tenor: Laudate Dominum
2311 Fennesz
2332 Marcus Davidson, Transept Organ & Robert Millner, Tenor: Chorale
2334 Charles Matthews, The Great Organ: J S Bach: Prelude on Jesus Christus, unser Heiland
2338 Charles Matthews, The Great Organ: Sem Dresden: Toccata, Chorale & Fugue
2350 Cor Fuhler, Grand Piano
0009 Marcus Davidson, The Great Organ: Gorécki: Kantata for Organ op. 26
0025 Charles Matthews, The Cabinet Organ: Sweelinck: Fantasia Chromatica
0034 Marcus Davidson, Grand Piano: Elergy
0042 Charles Matthews, Transept Organ & Robert Millner, Tenor: Daan Manneke: Zeven Vocalises voor Middenstem
0053 Philip Jeck
0125 Charles Matthews, Chamber Organ: Robertsbridge Codex: Estampie [c.1335]
0133 Charles Matthews, The Great Organ, Marcus Davidson, Grand Piano & Robert Millner, Tenor: Focus: La Cathédrale de Strasbourg [Thijs van Leer] arr. Marcus Davidson
0142 Ensemble: The Great Organ, Transept Organ, Cabinet Organ, Grand Piano & Electronics: Spire Live: Organoise
The 5th Spire took place on 13th May 2006 in at the St. George’s Church, Jesmond
Performers:
Main Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson
Portable Organ: Marcus Davidson & BJNilsen
Soloist: Robert Millner
Fennesz
Philip Jeck
BJNilsen
Organoise
The 4th Spire took place on 12th May 2006 at Leeds Town Hall as part of FuseLeeds06
Performers:
Main Organ & Portable Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson
Soloist: Robert Millner
Fennesz
BJNilsen
Organoise
Full Programme:
1930 Charles Matthews, Chamber Organ: Robertsbridge Codex: Estampie (l) [c.1335]
1940 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Ronald Perrin: A Spanish Toccata
1945 Marcus Davidson, Main Organ: Gorécki: Kantata for Organ op. 26
2000 BJNilsen
2030 Charles Matthews, Main Organ & Robert Millner, Tenor: Arnold Cooke: Boat Song [music by Arnold Cooke, words by John Davidson]
2040 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Max Reger: Introduction & Passacaglia in F minor
2100 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Giacinto Scelsi: In Nomine Lucis
2110 Ensemble: Main Organ, Chamber Organ & Electronics: Spire Live: Organoise
2130 Interval
2150 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Maurice Duruflé: Toccata
2200 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Sofia Gubaidulina: hell und dunkel
2210 Marcus Davidson, Main Organ & BJNilsen, Chamber Organ/Electronics: Davidson/Nilsen: Duet
2225 Charles Matthews, Main Organ & CD: Jonathan Harvey: Toccata
2230 Marcus Davidson, Main Organ & Robert Millner, Tenor: Marcus Davidson: Laudate Domine
2235 Fennesz
2310 Marcus Davidson, Main Organ: Arvo Part: Pari Intervallo
2325 Charles Matthews, Chamber Organ: Robertsbridge Codex: Estampie (ll) [c.1335]
1900-2330 Leif Inge [The Court Room] Installation: Bach’s Toccata and Fugue
The 3rd Spire took place on 7th May 2006 at St. Michel & St. Gudula Cathedral as part of Les Nuits Botaniques
Performers:
Main Organ: Charles Matthews & Xavier Deprez
Portable Organ: Charles Matthews
Philip Jeck
Fennesz
Les Musiques Nouvelles
Full programme:
2000 Charles Matthews, Chamber Organ: Robertsbridge Codex: Estampie (l) [c.1335]
2008 Xavier Deprez, Main Organ & Musiques Nouvelles, Strings: Arvo Pärt, Fratres
2020 Xavier Deprez, Main Organ & Musiques Nouvelles, Strings: Henryk Gorécki: Concerto for Keyboard
2046 Philip Jeck
2103 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Giacinto Scelsi: In Nomine Lucis
2106 Christian Fennesz
2136 Charles Matthews, Main Organ: Maurice Duruflé: Toccata
2146 Xavier Deprez, Main Organ & Musiques Nouvelles, strings: Jean-Paul Dessy: Drawn by Drones for six hands, three feet and a pencil
2152 Charles Matthews, Chamber Organ: Robertsbridge Codex: Estampie (ll) [c.1335]
The 2nd Spire took place on 4th October 2005 at Masthuggs Church as part of the GAS Festival
Performers:
Main Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson
Soloist: Robert Millner
Fennesz
Philip Jeck
BJNilsen
Interval: Henrik Rylander & Leif Elggren
Full programme:
2000 Philip Jeck
2045
J S Bach – Passacaglia [Organ: Charles Matthews] 13:00
Rune Lindblad – Death of the Moon [Organ: Marcus Davidson/Electronics: BJNilsen] 8:30
Franz Lizst – Les Morts [Organ: Charles Matthews/Tenor: Rob Millner] 7:30
Marcus Davidson – The Beeldenstorm [Organ: Charles Matthews/Tenor: Rob Millner. Lyrics: Mike Harding] 5:00
Sven-Eric Johanson – Sonata [Organ: Charles Matthews] 7:00
Marcus Davidson – Standing Wave [Organ: Marcus Davidson] 12:00
2145 BJNilsen
2230 Interval: Chamber Music by Leif Elggren & Henrik Rylander
2245
Anonymous – Estampie: from the Robertsbridge Codex, 1360 [Organ: Charles Matthews] 8:00
Enrico Bossi – Scherzo in G minor [Charles Matthews] 5:30
Kurt Atterberg – Preludium et Fuga [Charles Matthews] 5:15
Marcus Davidson – Om Mani Padme [Organ: Charles Matthews/Tenor: Rob Millner] 5:15
Jehan Alain – Litanies [Charles Matthews] 5:00
Arvo Pärt – Pari Intervallo [Organ: Charles Matthews] 5:33
2330 Fennesz
This release received an Honorary Distinction at Ars Electronica in 2006
DCD – 7 tracks
Track Listing:
CDOne 76:04
On the main organ in the cathedral: Charles Matthews plays tracks 1-4:
1. Marcus Davidson – Opposites Attract [10:05]
2. Marcus Davidson – Psalm for Organ 3 [1:24]
3. André Jolivet – Hymne à l’Universe [11:58]
4. Liana Alexandra – Consonances lll [6:52]
Marcus Davidson plays track 5:
5. Henryk Gorécki – Kantata for organ op. 26 [15:42]
In the side chapel: 6. BJNilsen – Live in La Petite Chapelle [29:59]
CDTwo 69:06
1. In the crypt: Philip Jeck – Live in the Crypt [44:14]
2. In the side chapel: Fennesz – Live in La Petite Chapelle [24:49]
St. Pierre Cathedral, Geneva, was the crucible of the Reformation in 1534…
The second release in the Spire series [cf Spire, organ works past, present & future, Touch # Tone 20, 2004] is more than a document of ‘Spire Live’, which took place as part of La Batie 2004, at St. Pierre Cathedral, Geneva, on 5th September 2004. Curated by Eric Linder, from La Batie, and Mike Harding, the dynamism of the event, where the audience rotated between 3 separate venues within the Cathedral precinct, is reflected in the individual recordings: Philip Jeck goes heavy metal in the crypt: BJNilsen comes over all moody in the side chapel, and Fennesz soothes and seduces in the same place.
All this is set up by Charles Matthews and Marcus Davidson on the main organ [4 manifolds, computer operated] which dominates the time and place. Davidson plays Gorécki’s extraordinary Kantata for organ, [full stops on max employed here] which segués into BJNilsen’s ultra-heavy live organ and electronics next door. This follows Charles Matthews’s excellent renditions of pieces by Jolivet and Alexandra which, as the text by Thierry Charollais says: “The event seemed provoking and iconoclastic in contrast to the severe and austere atmosphere of the cathedral. Though some of the musical pieces were audacious, the music focused mainly on spirituality. It generated a different perception of the organ pieces, thus modifying our perception of the cathedral and making the event truly exceptional.”
And to finish, Fennesz soothed us with sound. His set evoked the rolling centuries in all their pain and beauty, leaving us at once becalmed and energised, but never oppressed under the weight of time.
The 1st Spire took place on 5th September 2004 at Cathedral Saint Pierre as part of the La Batie Festival
Performers:
Main Organ: Charles Matthews & Marcus Davidson
La Petite Chapelle: Fennesz & BJNilsen
The Crypt: Philip Jeck
Full programme:
1930 Charles Matthews plays:
Olivier Messiaen – Soixante-quatre durées, from Livre d’orgue
André Jolivet – Hymne a l’Univers
Marcus Davidson – Organ Psalm no.3
Liana Alexandra – Consonances III
Marcus Davidson – Opposites Attract
Olivier Messiaen – Apparition de l’Eglise eternelle
2040 Marcus Davidson plays Henryk Gorecki – Kantata for organ Op. 26
2100 BJNilsen
2200 Philip Jeck
2300 Fennesz
DCD – 18 tracks
Track Listing:
CDOne
12 tracks – 52:10.21
1. Leif Elggren – Royal Organ
2. Z’EV – if only that love lets letting happen (organ music for organs)
3. Philip Jeck – Stops
4. Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson – Details of a New Discovery
5. Zephyr
6. Marcus Davidson – Organ Psalm V
7. Scott Minor/Fennesz – dwan
8. Finnbogi Pétursson – Diabolus
9. Biosphere – Visible Invisible
10. Toshiya Tsunoda – Layered
11. Tom Recchion – Shut-Eye Train
13. Lary Seven & Jeff Petersen – Disorganised
CDTwo
5 tracks – 53:55.54
1. BJNilsen – Breathe
2. Scott Taylor – Droner
3. Jacob Kirkegaard- Epiludio Patetico: a tribute to Rued Langgaard
4. Ambarchi/Recchion – Triste Remake
5. Chris Watson – Askam Wind Cluster
1st fruits of collaboration between Fennesz and Sparklehorse – recorded in Geneva by Christian Fennesz and Scott Minor * Touch regulars Biosphere, Philip Jeck, Benny Nilsen [Hazard], Chris Watson… * Newcomers include US free music composer and designer Tom Recchion, UK’s Scott Taylor, Icelandic artists Finnbogi Petursson and Sigtryggur Berg Sigmarsson, and one of Sweden’s premier performance artists Leif Elggren [The Sons of God, Firework Edition Records etc.], and one of the Kings of Elgaland-Vargaland * UK finest organist Charles Matthews and classical composer Marcus Davidson * Highly regarded Japanese field recordist Toshiya Tsunoda
The story:
The thought of producing a compilation where the tracks were all either inspired by or more directly influenced by the organ had been frequently aired over the years. The conversations were always animated and expansive. The organ works of Arvo PSrt, those performed by Christopher Bowers-Broadbent, a pupil of Richard Rodney Bennett at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and others, have reached a wider non-classical audience. Eventually Benny Nilsen arranged to visit St. Mary’s Church, Warwick and work with one of England’s finest, Charles Matthews. Crawling around inside the instrument, positioning microphones most appropriately in the Church, or ‘capturing’ the psalms composed by Marcus Davidson, Nilsen explored the possibilities with all the familiar lust of the avant-garde. As the brief widened, so did the responses… some contributors referred to earlier versions of the organ and its often highly political usage, others explored aged instruments themselves. Some studied the effects of the sounds produced on the physique and the psyche, others conceptualised the brief and either built their own or recorded natural or man-made phenomena which utilised the same basic process, wind through pipes. The organ represents the marriage between acoustic complexity and ritualised space. It is impossible not to be drawn upward, towards the spire of the church or cathedral, or to the huge and daunting forest of pipes themselves. The organ dwarfs all comers, and unlike other instruments, it is this non-musical element which makes the organ stand apart.