Composition Commissions issued to Pape, Wertmüller, Szlavnics and Mainka

Sonar Quartett GbR, Berlin, Germany

This year the Sonar Quartet is celebrating its tenth anniversary with the concert series "Utopie Streichquartett" taking its cue from the roots of the musical modern age and highlighting the pluralism that has developed from the freedom of modernity. In the years since they have been playing together the Sonar Quartet have premiered a total of over 50 works for string quartet. This line-up established since the First Viennese School seems to hold a particular fascination for many composers despite or perhaps because of its long history and tradition. What is special about the string quartet for its part was that the four vocal parts are weighted equally, serving as both accompaniments and also soloists– a democratic formation, to some extent a little slice of utopia.
The string quartet expressly wishes to use this anniversary as an opportunity not to look backwards but forwards. For the concerts composers Gérard Pape, Michael Wertmüller, Chiyoko Szlavnics and Jörg Mainka have been commissioned to write new works for the Sonar Quartet. These four composition commissions will be supported by the EvS Music Foundation.

November 12, 2016 (Pape)
January 7, 2017 (Wertmüller)
March 25, 2017 (Szlavnics and Mainka)
Akademie der Künste, Berlin

Further Information:
www.sonarquartett.de