Photo: Manu Theobald

 

Multi-Chorality in Rome – Composition Commission issued to Lisa Streich

Associazione Musicale UT Insieme Vocale-Consonante

The Roman tradition of multi-choral church music has lived in the shadow of ‘Venetian practice’ remaining largely undiscovered until today. Many of the works have no longer been performed since the 17th and 18th centuries and have been lost to oblivion. Playing a particular role in Roman practice are the acoustics of the performance location: the singers are spread around the room singing across the audience – which means the location provides a unique sound experience for each member of the audience. This multi-choral tradition in a synthesis of sound and space is picked up upon by Lisa Streich in a composition commission for 32 voices which is being supported by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation. She explains: “Creating a delicate thread that reflects history and absorbs Rome and Italy weaving it into a work of contemporary significance is my aim for this work. […] Thanks to the different choir locations the audience is no longer in one single space where they listen to the music. Instead the space becomes a body of instruments where they can sound out the specificities of the instrument. There is no ‘ideal listening position’, every member of the audience experiences some choirs from a distance and others closer at hand. […]“

The concert will be held in November 2017 at Rome’s historic performance venue of the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano.

November 2 – 5, 2017, San Giovanni in Laterano, Rome, Italy

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