Six Composition Commissions: Back to the Future

Duo Weirich/Löffler, Bergheim, Germany

With a private collection of analogue electric pianos, synthesizers and electric organs from the 1960s, 70s and 80s, violinist Hannah Weirich and pianist Ulrich Löffler are awarding composition commissions to Milica Djordjević, Gordon Kampe, Dariya Maminova, Ataç Sezer, Helge Sten and Francesca Verunelli. The duo is working on an international project aimed at renewing and expanding the repertoire for one of the supreme disciplines of chamber music: duo for violin and keyboards. Based on the composition commissions awarded, six concert premieres will be held featuring programs that also include previously premiered works, likewise realized with analogue keyboards, such as John Cage's Six Melodies for violin and keyboard (1950) or the 2019 Weirich/Löffler-commissioned Mixed Metaphors for violin and Minimoog by Eivind Buene.

Through this project Hannah Weirich and Ulrich Löffler expose the analogue devices to the innovative spirit of the current generation of composers and in this way bring what were previously futuristic instruments right up to date. They then land 'back in the future' of chamber music. The composition commissions are sponsored by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation.