Skotom: Composition Commission issued to Georgia Koumará

Consord, Münster, Germany

The Consord program, entitled Skotom, also features works by Sara Nemtsov and guitarist Nick Didkovsky in addition to a composition by Cologne-based Greek-born Georgia Koumará funded by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation. 'Scotoma,' the ancient Greek for 'darkness,' in ophthalmology refers to a vision defect – partial loss in the field of vision. Thus to "scotomize" commonly relates to a "denial, blocking out, repression of parts of reality" because they cannot be dealt with psychologically. The need to deny, repress, or be enraptured by parts of reality plays a central role in rock culture as a way to escape a life perceived as restricted by constraints.
Accordingly, the Skotom program also reflects a strong proximity to rock culture. Recordings from a collaboration between the ensemble and experimental rock guitarist Nick Didkovsky kick off the program. Nemtsov's orchestral work Skotom. Orchesterstück (2019) moves in a sound world reminiscent of wild 60s and 70s rock guitar solos that experiment with feedback. Georgia Koumará seems the ideal partner for a program like this that strives for a symbiosis of rock and New Music: In her compositions she tries to create an environment where the role of energy, intensity, musical flow and a continuous evolution of musical texture are in the spotlight.

August 19, 2022 
Münster Conservatory of Music

August 20, 2022
Alte Feuerwache, Cologne

August 21, 2022
Lehmbruck Museum, Duisburg

August 26, 2022
Resonance Room, Hamburg

Further Information:
www.consord.net