Via Nova - The Percussion Group

VIA NOVA - THE PERCUSSION GROUP
The percussion ensemble, with its international membership and which was founded in Salzburg, has made a program of its name: From the very beginning the four young musicians desired to explore new pathways with their instruments, in order to increase awareness of the variety of sound possibilitiers of the often underrated percussion instruments. During televised performances of the MDR and ZDF, at live radio clips by the SWR and Ö1, and at innumerable concerts, the artists were able to convince the audiences and critics of great festivals such as the Festival Echternach (Luxembourg), the Salzburg Festival, les muséiques (Switzerland), The Chamber Music Weeks of Sofia, the Finca Festival Gran Canaria, the Musicastello (Italy), the Taipei International Percussion Convention, the Hong Kong Drum Festival, and many others, of their exceptional talent. Whether together with orchestra, instrumental soloists, or on their own, the ensemble repeatedly succeeds in impressing its audience thanks to its sensitivitiy for the most varied styles, its variety of expression, and its strong presence on stage. The Via Nova Ensemble always remains faithful to its name, however, and is constantly expanding its repertoire through commissioned compositions and demanding arrangements. This sound group mixes a large repository of ideas with a sense of authentic music-making. It was honored in 2005 at the International Percussion Competition Luxembourg, where Via Nova obtained the First Price as well as two other awards. The greatest recognition, however, is awarded the quartet by the audience: "The audience went wild. Three standing ovations provided encores, one more exciting than the last. A superlative evening of percussion! We hope to hear you again soon, musicians of the Via Nova Percussion Group!"For Program Information please visit the Webpage at:
http://www.vianova-percussion.com
PROGRAMME:
- Classic Percussion
Classic Percussion or, if one wants, the pre- and early history of compositions for percussion instruments: what sounds absurd at first, namely classical music and percussion united as an established term, is obviously nothing else than the description of a concert program containing established percussion music, thus works with folklore influences from continents with a mature percussion tradition (Asia, Africa, Central and South America). Whether it is melodies on tin cans, cosy marimba and vibraphone sounds or virtuoso xylophone playing, one thing is clear: This is not (only) about mere drumming!
- Bulgarian Night
Bulgarian NightFolkmusic is a lively expression of the culture it is derived from. The folkmusic as its culture itself is open to new influences and continues to develop throughout the centuries. In this context Balcanic folkmusic, especially the Bulgarian, is most impressive. Under the influence of Trakian, Greek, Slavonic and Osman culture Bulgarian folkmusic has developped into a music tradition that is amongst the most complex and diverse in the world. Via Nova has collected songs, dances and choir works from different regions of Bulgaria. Following their credo of exploring new ways the quartet has made arrangements of folkmusic for modern percussion instruments. Besides the demanding metrics with its 7/8ths, 9/8ths, 11/8ths, 13/16ths and 15/16ths bars the biggest challenge is the expression of the enormous emotional bandwidth of this music on instruments as marimba, xylophone or vibraphone. The quartet also uses traditional folk instruments, e.g. the tapan, a Bulgarian drum that hasn't changed its design and use since 200 A.D. This mixture made of innovation and tradition, virtuosity and musical sensibility has earned jubilous ovations from audiences and critics all over the world. The Süddeutsche Zeitung Munich simply says about it: „fantastic, witful, explosive“.
- Contemporate Percussion
Contemporate PercussionWhen Edgar Varèse wrote his Ionisation he set the foundation for an independent genre, the percussive chamber music. Nobody would have thought what avalanche-like effect this would have on contemporate music. In nearly any modern composition percussion instruments are used. And on the other hand this has also provoked a very rapid development of the percussion instruments itself, so that nowadays we count over a hundred professionally crafted instruments being used in compositions. With Contemporate Percussion Via Nova presents a concert program that is composed both of commissioned works for the quartet and „evergreens“ of the contemporate music genre. The sensibility for sound and authentic interpretations of contemporate music has brought Via Nova wide reputation with the public, critics and last but not least composers themselves.
- Via Nova Percussion Group & Flöte
„What would Vivaldi have said if one had accompanied his famous flute concerto "La tempestá di mare" with four marimbaphones instead of with strings? There are no strings foaming like waves of a sea storm throughout the lagoon, but sticks whirl the salty water.“... „A combination of instruments, that have nothing in common? Not true at all, because flutes and percussion instruments are actually the oldest sound tools. It has taken a while, though, from the period of wooden wedges and bone flutes, until 1963, for André Jolivet to write the first piece for this ensemble, his „Suite en Concert“. And this immediately was a scoop of colourfulness and diversity.“... Drehpunkt Kultur, Salzburg, 22.05.2007„The alienized Vivaldi became a bright new sound experience and Jolivet's Suite showed, especially in the two slow movements when the flute sings elegically, what a mysterious world can be created by a percussion ensemble.„ Basellandschaftliche Zeitung, 03.05.2007works by A. Jolivet, Th. De Mey, A. Piazzolla, A. Vivaldi
- Duo Programm
Duo Program: Apart from pieces for quartet, duo works play a very important and decisive role in the percussion repertoire. Therefore Via Nova actively promotes and performs the duo repertoire and plays in different duo formations, some of which have been awarded prizes. The trademark of Via Nova's repertoire is its immense stylistic variety, ranging from traditional Bulgarian folk music and the sound worlds of Africa and Japan to arrangements such as Ravel's 'Alborado del Gracioso' and original works. Their program is a musical and visual treat for the audience as well as a great technical and musical challenge for every percussionist.
- Via Nova & Orchester
Via Nova and Orchestra After the world premiere performance of M.Wengler's 'Quadrofoglio' for four percussion soloists and orchestra at the 2005 IPCL, which was praised by audience and critics alike, Via Nova decided to further promote the idea of percussion quartet and orchestra. After a long artistic cooperation with one of Bulgaria's foremost composers, Krasimir Kyurkchiyski, 'Music for Percussion Quartet and String Orchestra' was composed. It is the first of several works dedicated to the virtuosos of Via Nova. The ensemble especially appreciates Kyurkchiyski's special technique of combining elements of Bulgarian folklore with contemporary composition techniques and unique harmonic writing. The work was premiered on May 30th, 2007 and received enthusiastically.
- Der Garten Eden – Perkussion & Photographie
The Garden Eden – percussion & photographyLong since, the times have passed when piano accompaniment in cinemas was normal. By perfectioning the audioline of films this acoustic aid became unnecessary. The advantages of being able to add noises, voices and different kinds of music to the film were too significant to be ignored. The Garden Eden is – in its own way – a reminiscence of the combination of live music and images. Three visual slide shows by South Tyrolian artist and photographer Konrad Laimer are the content of this Garden Eden, who collaborated with composer Herbert Grassl and Eduard Demetz as well as the Via Nova Percussion Group for this unique creation. The main themes are nature, gardens, culture and last but not least the people, who live in this Garden Eden. It is a journey into the inside of South Tyrol, honest, unadulterated, artistically presented – an artistic exploration in a thrilling combination of music and photographies, which may, though speaking for themselves, need the music, to complete the articulation of their message.