Ictus . Georges-Elie Octors

'Vortex Temporum' by Gérard Grisey (1946-1998) was first performed by the Ensemble Recherche at the Witten Festival in 1996. It is a demanding work in three parts for a mixed sextet and since it was first performed has been an icon of contemporary ensemble music. In his ensemble piece 'Etwas ruhiger im Ausdruck', Franco Donatoni (1927-2000), fascinated by the transformation of historical material, starts out from an excerpt from Schoenberg's 'Klavierstücke opus 23'. Donatoni wrote this work in the period when he escaped from what he called 'a pitiful state of self-destruction and indeterminacy'. From then on he approached his work like a craftsman who continually remodelled his works and - just like John Cage - taking account of chance elements, would continue forever refining his compositions. His compatriot Giacinto Scelsi (1905-1988) wrote his duo for violin and cello on the basis of improvisations by his assistants. His music is inspired by Zen and expresses the internal vibration of the sounds. Here too we can sense the spirit of John Cage floating around.