Our ricordilab composers continue down the road to success. Hannah Kendall plays a central role at the Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City festival, with the world premiere of her new orchestral work He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing. The composition – inspired by Schumann and Mozart – will be presented by Jonathon Heyward and the Festival Orchestra at the closing concerts on 9 and 10 August. One month later, co-commissioner Musikkollegium Winterthur, under the chief direction of Roberto González-Monjas, will play the piece in Europe for the first time. Diana Syrse’s orchestral work To be told also sees its premiere in September. Germany’s youngest top orchestra, the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, commissioned the composition for a program dedicated to the 1848 National Assembly and the March Revolution – and, true to history, will present it at the St. Paul’s Church in Frankfurt under the direction of Friederike Scheunchen. Both projects are supported by the Ernst von Siemens Musikstiftung.

Hannah Kendall: He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing

He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing is inspired by both Schumann's Symphony No. 2 and Mozart's Jupiter, which led me to the title; a passage from the book of Job reflecting on the greatness and power of God, with specific imagery speaking to the miraculous creation of the vast cosmos. It reminded me of Jupiter, god of sky and thunder (in some translations "the north" is "the northern skies," and later on the verse says, "who then can understand the thunder of his power?") However, it also seemed to embody the sensations of profound despair, reminiscent of Schumann’s, having read his letters: feelings of being within a void; suspended without tangible means of support. This is the overall theme that I have aimed to evoke through the work. More specifically, an expansive opening brass section is constructed on a series of chords from Schumann’s symphony. Indeed, motifs from both works are quoted, and furthermore, a collection of pre-programmed music boxes play Mozart's Ah! vous dirai-je, Maman, which is a theme and variations on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, linking back to the boundlessness of the skies, but more importantly urging for light from a seemingly all-consuming darkness.

Diana Syrse: To be told

St. Paul’s Church in Frankfurt is a prominent location: The first National Assembly took place here in 1848. And since its reconstruction in 1948, it has played host to a great many events and debates that negotiate Germany's democratic self-image. The Junge Deutsche Philharmonie, one of the first grass-roots orchestras, is now expanding this discourse with a musical contribution. The concert’s centrepiece is the world-premiere of a commission by Mexican composer Diana Syrse, which deals with statements on the German National Assembly. The programme also includes Arsenal of Democracy by American composer Julia Wolfe, which takes us back to the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie’s democratic constitution. The work arose from the idea of practising democratic ideals in large ensembles.

About To be told

The 15 to 20-minute piece is crafted for ensemble and electronics, chosen to create an intricate and immersive soundscape within the church's resonant acoustics. By incorporating concise statements from the 1848 National Assembly, the piece weaves a rich tapestry of historical and contemporary reflections on democracy, made tangible through music. This work emphasizes the importance of diverse opinions, lively discourse, and the vibrant interplay of different voices. It challenges the notion of societal division, highlighting instead the strength found in diversity and the dynamic nature of democratic engagement.
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