... to Juan Allende-Blin

E-MEX e.V., Essen, Germany

When Gerd Zacher died on June 9, 2014 we lost a pioneer of contemporary organ music as well as a composer and music writer. On that Whit Monday he had in fact planned to perform a concert at his former venue, the Lutherkirche, in Hamburg-Wellingsbüttel. Since the 1950s Zacher had fundamentally revived the organ and its repertoire. Furthermore, he invented new techniques giving the instrument greater flexibility.
The memorial concert under the artistic direction of the composer and curator Juan Allende-Blin reflects the diversity of Zacher’s oeuvre. Zacher’s organ piece “Récits” will be performed here for the first time.
Supported by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation Juan Allende-Blin also composed “Transformations VIII – Antiphonie” for the memorial concert. The piece is written for one organ with adjustable wind supply and for an ensemble consisting of flute, clarinet, tenor, trumpet and trombone. In his work the composer also incorporated silence.

January 24, 2016
Protestant Parish of Essen-Rellinghausen

Further Information:
www.e-mex-ensemble.de