Composition Commission issued to Bernhard Lang

Ensemble Proton Bern, Switzerland

Ensemble Proton Bern will be premiering a new work by composer Bernhard Lang (*1957) in the Dürrenmatt anniversary year of 2021. Based on Dürrenmatt's last literary text, Das Hirn, a musical-literary piece for small chamber ensemble and female voice will be created, which will also make this radical and dark text both accessible and audible. "I have been captivated by the text's eschatological force since I first read it upon publication in 1990, and it will now inspire a large piece juxtaposing a solo voice with a chamber music ensemble: the voice follows Dürrenmatt's stream of speech in an uninterrupted recitative tone of the highest intensity; the ensemble mirrors this speech melody and rhythm, amplifying the gesture of being breathlessly rushed, in its urgency and panic; loops, differential harmonics and 'damaged beats' form the structure underlying the score." (Bernhard Lang). The composition is funded by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation.

Due to the current situation and the associated conditions, there may be changes at short notice. For the latest information on the project please therefore check ensembleproton.ch