Press kit

RAINSHosokawa - Kishino - Taïra - Takemitsu

New album

World release : 13th September 2019CD, LP and digital

℗ & © 2019 Percussions de Strasbourg / Outhere / Believe Digital

Press contact : Ana-Maria SanchezCell phone. : +33 (0)6 59 83 59 13 - rp@percussionsdestrasbourg.com

Percussions de Strasbourg - 15 place André Maurois - 67200 Strasbourg

NEW ALBUM RAINS

TRACK LISTING

Les Percussions de StrasbourgMinh-Tâm Nguyen*- Galdric Subirana* - François Papirer*Hsin-Hsuan Wu -Thibaut Weber - Enrico Pedicone(*musicians of the trio Rain Tree Tōru Takemitsu)

Artististic director Les Percussions de Strasbourg : Minh-Tâm NguyenArtistic director of the recording : Jean Geoffroy Recorded on 24 & 25 january 2019 at the Théâtre de Hautepierre, Strasbourg, FranceArtwork : Le FuturCover photography : Christophe Urbain

1. Toshio Hosokawa - Regentanz2. Malika Kishino - Sange3. Yoshihisa Taïra - Hiérophonie V4. Tōru Takemitsu - Rain Tree

17’5018’5417’1112’18

Created in 2016 by Les Percussions de Strasbourg, the eponymous label of this legendary ensemble was immediately known thanks to a “Victoire de la Musique” for their first release: Burning Bright by Hugues Dufourt. Les Percussions de Strasbourg’s label embraces contemporary creation, from «Pleiades» by Iannis Xenakis to «Ghostland» by Pierre Jodlowski and «Drum-Machines» by eRikm and enables the group to keep spreading the most innovative and outstanding works of its repertoire around the world.

THE RECORD LABEL OF LES PERCUSSIONS DE STRASBOURG

Three years later with this album «Rains», we come back to the traditional sextet recital form, so much appreciated by the group. It is based on the emblematic ritual «Hierophonie V» by Yoshihisa Taïra, delightfully put in mirror by Malika Kishino (Sange). Toshio Hosokawa’s incantarory Rain dance (Regentanz) reveals this ceremony that is closed by Tōru Takemitsu’s drops changed into jewels by his ingenious Rain Tree.

“Dancing with the rain, in order to conjure, just for a moment, what we thought invisible.

Driven by curiosity, eagerness, passion, excellence and tradition, Les Percussions de Strasbourg ventures to embody the unique energy of a programme in tribute to four Japanese composers with admirable universes.

Rain of petals, rain of screams, rain of silences, all these emotions are harmonized and kept in motion by Franck Rossi, Jean Geoffroy and Percussions de Strasbourg.”

Minh-Tâm NGUYEN

Artistic DirectorLes Percussions de Strasbourg

RAINS

© Claudia Hansen

“This album is born from les Percussions de Strasbourg’s strong intuition, desire and conviction to share this adventure and this captivating repertoire with everyone”. Minh-Tâm Nguyen, Musician and Artistic director.

Regentanz is a work inspired by traditional Japanese music: it is like a Japanese garden where everything is still and where everything finally starts to move.

Toshio Hosokawa has created a piece based on the theme of spirituality and shamanism, using the various Asian instruments of the instrumentarium of Percussions de Strasbourg: tam-tams, gongs, kwon gongs, baolos, water gongs, mokushos ... His music, which associates inner journeys and symbolic interpretations of nature, is characterized by an economy of means, the predominant role is given to silence, resonance and the relation between sound and corporality.

REGENTANZ - Toshio Hosokawa COMMISSIONED BY LES PERCUSSIONS DE STRASBOURG

(born in Hiroshima - 1955)

Homage to Yoshihisa Taïra composed ten years after his dead, Sange uses mainly the same intrumentarium and positioning of Hiérophonie V.During the Sange - a Buddhist ceremony - priests circulate while chanting the sutra, spreading petals to bless the deceased spirits. The Japanese literal translation means «spreading petals» (San = spreading, Ge = petals). Originally, during this ritual, flowers and fresh lotus petals were used. Today, these are replaced by colored paper.

In Sange, Malika Kishino uses the spreading gesture and the movement of priests as sound material and as the main musical gesture. The numerous musical modes, their combinations and the creation of various sound layers express several directions in the space and thus put the sounds in motion, giving an electroacoustic dimension to the piece.

SANGE - Malika Kishino (born in Kyoto - 1971)

Piece for six percussionnists created on 1st November 2018 at the Funkhaus Köln, during the festival « Musik der Zeit » of the WDR Köln by les Percussions de Strasbourg

Piece for six percussionnists created on 5th December 2016 at the Teatro comunale Città di Vicenza by les Percussions de Strasbourg

«This work, which starts with the primitive acts of percussion and crying, continues in the second part by the negation of this same act. Here, the act of percussion is very limited. Would it be possible to perceive the serenity of the Soul in the continuous vibration of the instruments? From time to time, we can hardly hear the drums of the popular celebration, as if the men were joining together when hitting the instruments themselves, thus discovering a song which expresses the breathing of life. Through this, the six percussionists also find the body’s respiration. Thanks to the repetition of rhythmic ostinato, I wanted to confirm (in my way), the essential pleasure of the body. I dedicate this work to the Percussions de Strasbourg with whom I experienced an unforgettable musical collaboration during the rehearsals ». Yoshihisa Taïra

HIEROPHONIE V - Yoshihisa Taïra(1937 Tokyo - 2005 Paris)Piece for six percussionnists created on 23rd March 1975 at the Royan Festival by Les Percussions de Strasbourg

«lt is called the ‘Rain Tree’ because it seems to make it rain. Whenever it rains at night, throughout the following morning the tree makes drops fall from all its richly growing leaves. While the other trees quickly dry out after the rain, the Rain Tree, because its leaves, no bigger than fingertips grow so closely together, can store up raindrops in its leaves. Truly an ingenious tree ! » quoted from «Atama no ii Ame no Ki» (The lngenious Rain Tree) by Kenzaburo Oé

RAIN TREE - Toru Takemitsu(1930 - 1996 Tokyo)

Piece for 3 percussionists created on 31st May 1981 at Today Music Festival in Tokyo

LES PERCUSSIONS DE STRASBOURG - NEXTS CONCERTS

Friday 20 September, 20h30Saturday 21 september, 20h30Strasbourg - Les Halles - Citadelle

My Greatest hits with l’Ensemble IctusRobin Hoffmann, Locken (2006)Terry Riley, Rainbow in curved air (1968)Francesco Filidei, I funerali dell’anarchico Serantini (2005-2006) Simon Steen-Andersen, Reine de la Nuit

Saturday 21 September, 18h30Strasbourg - Palais de la Musique et des CongrèsSalle Erasme

Orchestre national de MetzRebecca Saunders, Void (2013-2014) FRENCH PREMIERE

for 2 percussions and orchestra

Orchestre national de MetzRebecca Saunders, Void (2013-2014)or 2 percussions and orchestra

Sunday 22 September, 18h30Metz - Arsenal - Cité Musicale de MetzGrande Salle

Thierry De Mey, Timelessness (2019) WORLD PREMIERE Sunday 29 Septembre, 17h00Strasbourg - Point d’eau

Carmine Emanuele Cella, Kore (2019) WORLD PREMIERE

Iannis Xenakis, Persephassa (1969)Wednesday 9 October, 20h30Milano - Pirelli HangarBicocca

Iannis Xenakis, Persephassa (1969)Thrusday 10 October, 20h30Milano - Pirelli HangarBicocca

Thrusday 21 November, 20h30Perpignan - L’Archipel Scène nationaleSalle Le Grenat

Iannis Xenakis, Persephassa (1969)Sunday 1er Décember, 17hHambourg - ElbphilharmonieGrand Hall

«L’Âge d’or» – Ciné-concert Martin Matalon, Le Scorpion (2002)

Saturday 23 November, 20h00Luxembourg - PhilharmonieRainy days

Thierry De Mey, Timelessness (2019)

Thursday 14 November 2019, 20h30Strasbourg - Théâtre de Hautepierre

Album release concert Rains FRENCH PREMIERE

Hosokawa - Kishino - Taïra - Takemitsu

LES PERCUSSIONS DE STRASBOURG

« A legendary ensemble, well alive ». Le Figaro

For almost sixty years, the Percussions de Strasbourg has been gathering musicians who are now representative of every continent. It has expanded the Western sound beyond its boundaries. Besides the technical achievements and the originality

of a repertoire that nothing connects to the past, the group has given a consistency to seemingly heterogeneous material and melted it into a single blend

Hugues Dufourt

HALF A CENTURY OF CREATION

Founded in 1962, the Percussions de Strasbourg are world-renowned ambassadors of musical creation. With their exceptional repertoire, the group performs twentieth century masterpieces and commissioned new works with the same concerns: to bring life to a contemporary heritage while revisiting it constantly, and to continue to innovate in a context of artistic diversification.

Since its foundation, the group still stands at the heart of creation, thanks to its particular connections with contemporary composers and the diversity of its abilities in terms of musical formats: from duo to octet, from acoustics to electronics, from recitals to musical theater and dance, etc ...

Having been dedicated more than 350 works, the group continues to maintain and develop its unique instrumentarium in the world. It has recorded many times and has received around thirty international awards, including a Victoire de la musique classique in 2017, which the Percussions de Strasbourg label won for its first record release, Burning Bright by Hugues Dufourt.

The daily commitment of the ensemble to educational activities is reflected in their various actions, particularly with the public in Hautepierre where the ensemble is in residence.

OUR DISCOGRAPHY

BURNING BRIGHT, H. DUFOURTLes Percussions de StrasbourgLes Percussions de Strasbourg 2016Victoires de la Musique 2017 / Diapason d'Or / Coup de cœur Charles Cros / Clé d'Or Res Musica

LES PERCUSSIONS DE STRASBOURG – 50È ANNIVERSAIRE, 44 COMPOSITEURSCoffret 15 CD’sUniversal Classics France 2012Prix In Honorem de l’Académie Charles Cros pour l’ensemble de la carrière de l’ensemble.

LE NOIR DE L’ÉTOILE, G. GRISEYLes Percussions de Strasbourg Universal Music 2004

ENTENTE PRÉALABLE, ŒUVRE COLLECTIVE - 12 CompositeursLes Percussions de Strasbourg Musidisc France – Universal Music 2002

EREWHON, H. DUFOURTLes Percussions de StrasbourgAccord, Musidisc France 2000 / Universal MusicGrand Prix de l’Académie Charles Cros

LES PERCUSSIONS DE STRASBOURGY. TAÏRA, P. MANOURY, F-B MÂCHE, H. DUFOURT, M. KABELAC, I. XENAKISDouble CD – Phillips 1993 / PolyGram France

PLÉIADES - CONCERTANTEI. Xenakis, M. IshiiLes Percussions de Strasbourg K. AbeNippon Columbia 1989 / Denon

NOCES - CANTIGAS, I. STRAVINSKY, M. OHANARoland Hayrabedian, DirectionLes Percussions de Strasbourg, Choeur ContemporainDisques Pierre Verany 1987, 1989Grand Prix du Disque Français

MUSIK IM BAUCH, K. STOCKHAUSENLes Percussions de StrasbourgVinyle – Deutsche Grammophon 1977

LEMANJA, J. COURTOUXLes Percussions de StrasbourgVinyle – Musique et Culture 1974, 1983

PERCUSSION CYCLE, J. PAMPINLes Percussions de StrasbourgSargasso 2016 / Joseph Anderson & Juan Pampin

FRANÇOIS-BERNARD MÂCHELes Percussions de Strasbourg Ju Percussion Group de Taïwan Percussions de Strasbourg 2005/MFA Universal Music

LE SCORPION, M. MATALONLes Percussions de StrasbourgUniversal Music 2004

BIBILOLO, M. MONNETLes Percussions de Strasbourg Musidisc France 2001 / Universal Music

AUTRES CONTACTS, J-P. DROUETLes Percussions de Strasbourg & A. DraméL’empreinte digitale 1995-2010 / Harmonia Mundi

EDISON DENISSOV 1929Les Percussions de StrasbourgC. Delangle, O. Delangle, M. Soveral, J-L. HaguenauerDisques Pierre Verany 1990

PLÉIADES, I. XENAKISLes Percussions de StrasbourgHarmonia Mundi 1987, 1996, 2010Percussions de Strasbourg 2016Diapason d'Or

ACTUOR, I. MALECLes Percussions de Strasbourg Vinyle – MFA, Harmonia Mundi 1983

CANTO GENERAL, M. THEODORAKI, P. NERUDALes Percussions de StrasbourgChoeur National de France / A. Newman, D. Bakopoulou, M. Farantouri P. Pandis, E. Assimakopoulos, L. Zoe,Double CD – Minos 1975, BMG Record 1991

LES PERCUSSIONS DE STRASBOURG EN CONCERTM. KABELAC, C. CHAVEZ, J-S. BACH, N. RIMSKY-KORSAKOV, G. PETER Les Percussions de StrasbourgVinyle – Musique et Culture, Camif 1983

GHOSTLAND, P. JODLOWSKILes Percussions de Strasbourg 2018 / Outhere, Believe DigitalLABEL PERCUSSIONS DE STRASBOURG

DRUM-MACHINES, ERIKMeRikm & Les Percussions de Strasbourg 2017 / Outhere, Believe Digital

LABEL PERCUSSIONS DE STRASBOURGLABEL PERCUSSIONS DE STRASBOURG

LABEL PERCUSSIONS DE STRASBOURGLABEL PERCUSSIONS DE STRASBOURG

EXTENSIONS 2, F. MIROGLIOLes Percussions de StrasbourgVinyle – Philips (Prospectives 21e siècle) 1970

HUIT INVENTIONS – QUATRE ÉTUDES CHORÉGRAPHIQUES, M. OHANA, M. KABELACLes Percussions de StrasbourgVinyle – Philips (Prospectives 21e siècle) 1970

AMERICANA, E. VARESE, C. CHAVEZ, J. CAGELes Percussions de StrasbourgVinyle– Philips (Prospectives 21e siècle) 1970, 1984

LES PERCUSSIONS DE STRASBOURG, K. SEROCKI, V. SILVESTROV, M. PUIG Vinyle – Philips (Prospectives 21e siècle) 1969

SIGNALS, P. SCHAT, M. SHINOHARA, M. STIBILJLes Percussions de StrasbourgVinyle – Philips (Prospectives 21e siècle) 1967Limelight 1969

COULEURS DE LA CITÉ CELESTE ET EXSPECTO RESURRECTIO-NEM MORTUORUM, O. MESSIAENP. Boulez, DirectionLes Percussions de StrasbourgOrchestre de Domaine MusicalVinyle – Erato 1966, 1993,2003

Luigi NONOD. Heusinger, DirecteurLes Percussions de Strabourg : Con Luigi Dallapiccola. M. Hinterhäuser, S. OttoEnsemble ExperimentalExperimentalstudio des SWR 2010Neos Music 2011

VOICES, D. D’ADAMOLes Percussions de Strasbourg : « Die runde zahl » Ensemble Court CircuitMFA Radio France – Harmonia Mundi 2002

Gilles RACOTLes Percussions de Strasbourg : « Subgestuel » MFA – INA GRM 2000

GOUGEON – LESAGE – PERRON - PROVOST L. Vaillancourt, DirectionLes Percussions de Strasbourg, Nouvel En-semble Moderne : « Un train pour l’enfer » Société Radio Canada 1993-1995, UMMUS

BOULEZ - MESSIAENP. Boulez, DirectionLes Percussions de Strasbourg : « Le marteau sans maître » «7 Haïkai »J. Deroubaix, S. Gazzelloni, A. Stingl, Y. Loriod, S. Collot Disques Ades 1964,1971,1995

CYCLES – JEUX 6, G. AMY, R. HAUBENSTOCKLes Percussions de StrasbourgVinyle – Philips (Prospectives 21e siècle) 1970

TROIS INVENTIONS - TOCCATA, M. KABELAC, C. CHAVEZLes Percussions de StrasbourgVinyle – Philips (Prospectives 21e siècle) 1970

ARCHIPEL 3, A. BOUCOURECHLIEVLes Percussions de StrasbourgG. PludermacherVinyle – Philips (Prospectives 21e siècle) 1970

PERSEPHASSA, I. XENAKISLes Percussions de StrasbourgVinyle – Philips (Prospectives 21e siècle) 1971, 1972, 1979

OLIVIER MESSIAEN – ARNOLD SCHOENBERGPierre Doulez, DirectionLes Percussions de StrasbourgOrchestre du Domaine MusicalVinyle - Disque Adès 1964, Everest 1966, Harmonia Mundi 1973

ÉQUIVALENCES, J_C. ELOYP. Boulez, DirectionLes Percussions de Strasbourg Orchestre de Domaine Musical Vinyle – Adès 1964 / Universal Music France

Luigi NONOD. Heusinger, DirecteurEnsemble Experimental, Les Percussions de Strasbourg : Rizzonanze Erranti, Experimentalstudio des SWRNeos 2010Preis der Deutschen Schallplatten Kritik

Michäel LEVINASLes Percussions de Strasbourg : « Voûtes » MFA – Disques Salabert 1994 / Harmonia Mundi Aeon 2001

ANNETTE SCHLÜNZLes Percussions de Strasbourg : « Et la pluie se mit à tomber »Wergo 1998

LUIGI DALLAPICCOLAR. Hayrabedian, DirectionChoeur Contemporain d’Aix-en-Provence Les Percussions de Strasbourg : « Canti di Prigionia » ADDA 1992

PROPOSITIONS I À VIII, F. BAYERJ-L. Forestier, DirectionLes Percussions de Strasbourg : Propositions IIIErato Disques 1990

ANOTHER WORKS

RE-PERCUSSION, L. SALZEDO, M. KABELAC, V. SILVESTROV Les Percussions de StrasbourgLondon Percussion EnsembleVinyl e– Philips 1971

EAST MEETS WEST, T. SCHERCHEN, A. LOUVIER, G. APERGHISLes Percussions de StrasbourgVinyle – Philips (Prospectives 21è siècle) 1972Réédition CD : Pentatone 2004

© Christophe Urbain, 2019

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+33 (0)3 88 27 75 04Les Percussions de Strasbourg

15 place André Maurois67200 Strasbourg - France

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