a penchant for experiment and improvisation
Are baroque instruments only suited to baroque music? Not in B’Rock’s world, where present and past occasionally sample each other with great curiosity or embrace each other as old friends. This programme opts resolutely for the second approach. Louis Andriessens Miserere, for example, is reminiscent of the illustrious 17th-century composition by Gregorio Allegri. In addition, three composers are now writing new concertos for B’Rock in the ‘XS’ format: in each case, five strings and a basso continuo join forces with a single special solo instrument, ranging from the Japanese sho to live electronics and the human voice – each a notable guest in what is an eminently baroque instrumental form. Wim Henderickx (BE), Matt Wright (UK) and Reza Namavar (NL) each in their own way explore the potential of historical instruments in a world of contemporary sound. What they all share is a penchant for experiment and improvisation.