A PROJECT THAT SETS OUT TO EXPLORE COMMON GROUND BETWEEN CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL AND MODERN ELECTRONIC MUSIC
Pantha Du Prince & The Bell Laboratory performing « Elements of Light »
A carillon is a baton, console-driven ensemble of bells, all capable of producing different tones. Bells arranged in carillon form have been regular features of church steeples throughout Europe since early medieval times. Their numbers declined somewhat during the course of the World Wars. As metal was in demand at the time, a lot of the bells were impounded during the course of the conflicts.
Though commonly associated with these places of worship, the use of a 64-piece set of bells in Pantha Du Prince & The Bell Laboratory should not be seen as a romanticization or appropriation of the Christian faith and its symbols. Rather, the use of bells represents an autonomous development of Pantha Du Princes’s sound aesthetic, a logical continuation of the work heard on his latest album, «Black Noise» (Rough Trade Records, 2010).
For the Bell Laboratory Project, Hendrik Weber (Pantha Du Prince) has decided to go further in his exploration of the bell. This time, he is centering his work on the sonic limitations of the instrument itself.
The Bell Laboratory can be seen as both a musical score and a full orchestra. Weber got the inspiration to compose for carillon in the summer of 2010, when he heard the characteristic bells of Oslo City Hall during a visit to the Norwegian capital. Weber has collaborated with Norwegian conductor, instrumentalist and electro-acoustic composer Lars Petter Hagen ever since. The result of this collaboration is «Elements of Light», a 40-minute symphony for carillon, live percussion and electronic programming. In addition to the 64-piece carillon, the piece includes numerous tubular bells, marimba, xylophone, cymbals and other percussive elements.
«Elements of Light» is a composition into imaginary space, brought to life through transcription and rehearsals with the other musicians taking part in the project.
Oslo City Hall’s carillonneur Vegar Sandholt and percussionists Martin Horntveth of Jaga Jazzist, Erland Dahlen of Madrugada, Håkon Stene of the Norwegian Academy of Music and Heming Valebjørg of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra have all aided Weber and Hagen in the further development and live implementation of «Elements of Light».
«Elements of Light» is a logical continuation of Pantha Du Prince’s previous work, but the music does in no way constitute a walk down beaten paths. The result of this unusual project is an original piece, crafted in the intersection between electronic elements and classical composition.
The piece’s inaugural presentation was at Oslo’s Øya Festival this August, with the German premiere following a month later at a sold out Berlin performance in the West Berlin gallery Vittorio Manalese.
The 64-piece concert carillon will be transferred from the Scandinavian Carillon School in Denmark to the concert locations. The bells will be managed and maintained by Morten Langberg. The full six-member cast of The Bell Laboratory will be performing at all events.
A recording of the project is currently in works.
For more info contact: info@pantarheiproject.com