As I worked on my next music composition book this morning, I was searching for some fun and novel ideas that kids would enjoy, and came across this blogpost by the composer-in-residence at the Handel House in London. I was immediately intrigued, not only because it touches on Augenmusik (shaped scores that I blogged about last week), but also, I had visited Handel House in 2010 in both London and Halle, Germany and well remembered the beauty of the House museum. The displays, authentic instruments, artifacts all reminded me of the legacy of this legendary composer.
Edwin Hillier writes about composing a new work "House Music" in which he captures the facade of the Handel House in the composition:
"It works with the Renaissance principle of Augenmusik – where art was often used to illuminate notated music – and develops it so the relationship is thoroughly structural. The song is structured by windows cut through the paper, which are assembled to follow the facade of Handel House, in Brook Street, London. Players are to perform what they see on the page before them, including the material revealed beneath by the windows. The libretto marks the progress of a career, or life, across four movements – beginning as an outsider looking in to the establishment; then claiming the safer space within; and finally settling upstairs to sleep, and dream of legacy.
I've been so drawn to the concept of eye music, my entire concert series has centred around the theme of 'seeing sound', featuring leading lights in music and film such as Jessica Hynes, Oren Marshall, Sarah Angliss, Crewdson, and Calum Gourlay.
I thought you might find it interesting to see the work-in-progress of my composition, as eyemusic is not necessarily a typical structure... "
Read the rest of his post at http://handelhousecomposer.blogspot.com/2014/11/house-music-eyemusic-my-last-commission.html
Images of my visit to Halle: the town square with the Handel momument, the Marktkirche on the town square where Handel was baptized and received his first organ lessons, and pictures from inside the Handel House museum.
Edwin Hillier writes about composing a new work "House Music" in which he captures the facade of the Handel House in the composition:
"It works with the Renaissance principle of Augenmusik – where art was often used to illuminate notated music – and develops it so the relationship is thoroughly structural. The song is structured by windows cut through the paper, which are assembled to follow the facade of Handel House, in Brook Street, London. Players are to perform what they see on the page before them, including the material revealed beneath by the windows. The libretto marks the progress of a career, or life, across four movements – beginning as an outsider looking in to the establishment; then claiming the safer space within; and finally settling upstairs to sleep, and dream of legacy.
I've been so drawn to the concept of eye music, my entire concert series has centred around the theme of 'seeing sound', featuring leading lights in music and film such as Jessica Hynes, Oren Marshall, Sarah Angliss, Crewdson, and Calum Gourlay.
I thought you might find it interesting to see the work-in-progress of my composition, as eyemusic is not necessarily a typical structure... "
Read the rest of his post at http://handelhousecomposer.blogspot.com/2014/11/house-music-eyemusic-my-last-commission.html
Images of my visit to Halle: the town square with the Handel momument, the Marktkirche on the town square where Handel was baptized and received his first organ lessons, and pictures from inside the Handel House museum.
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