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On December 9th, 2009 I made my way to the Essl Museum in search of the lost spirit of Advent. It was there that Agnes Heginger and Karlheinz Essl performed for the first time as a duo, developing an improvised musical dialogue 'out of the blue'. Somehow 'out of the blue' fit perfectly for me because I was looking for a way out of my melancholy December mood. Instead of chairs there were cushions spread out on the floor that seemed to invite the audience to a direct, unconventional and comfortable listening experience.The Essl/Heginger performance: responsive, unpretentious and focused. There was a positive feeling of closeness and a friendly attentiveness towards the audience.
From the very first moment I was stunned and amazed, and at the same time touched and fascinated with what then happened. As I sank deeper into my floor cushion, I felt almost embarrassed by a let's say 'complete sense of happiness'. Two highly sensitive personalities engaged each other in a dialogue that should go down in history as a prime example of musical interaction.
There were many innovative moments, alternating quite willingly the musicians pulled each other into reflection, with clear sighted independence, fusing things into perspective. With a dramatic climax at the perfect moment, they communicated affectionately with virtuoso clarity to a spellbound audience. Whether it was 'out of the blue' or carefully planned, the opportunity to listen to Agnes Heginger's and Karlheinz Essl's musical dialogue was indeed my good fortune.
You were certainly left hoping that this musical conversation will be continued.
Translation: Robert Hoare
Am 9. Dezember 2009 habe ich mich auf der Suche nach der verlorenen Adventstimmung ins Essl Museum begeben, wo Agnes Heginger und Karlheinz Essl erstmals „als Duoformation vor ihr Publikum traten“. Sie wollten „out of the blue“ einen improvisatorischen Dialog entwickeln. Das passte gut, denn auch ich wollte irgendwie „out of the blue“, aus der melancholischen Dezemberstimmung herauskommen.Auf dem Fußboden waren statt Stühlen Sitzsäcke ausgebreitet und luden dazu ein, sich in eine unverblümt unkonventionelle, bequeme Zuhörerposition zu bringen.
Auftritt Essl/Heginger: sympathisch, unarrogant, konzentriert, bei sich, trotzdem aber positiv distanzlos und freundlich aufmerksam dem Publikum zugewandt.
Was dann, vom allerersten Augenblick an geschah, ließ mich fassungslos, gerührt, gebeutelt, fasziniert, fast beschämt vor sagen wir ganzheitlichem Glück immer tiefer in die einmal eingenommene Sitz-Liege-Position versinken. Da entwickelten zwei hochsensible Persönlichkeiten einen Dialog, der als Musterbeispiel in die musikalische Menschenrechtsgeschichte eingehen sollte. Der innovativen Argumente gab es viele, bereitwilligst wurden sie vom wechselnden Gegenüber in die Reflexion einbezogen, in weitsichtiger Souveränität, beschwichtigender Relativierung, dramatischer Zuspitzung wurden sie bis zu einem guten Punkt liebevoll und virtuos beleuchtet und ausgereizt, in vollendeter Form dem gebannten Publikum übersetzt.
Ob das „out of the blue“ oder von langer Hand geplant war: man kann jedenfalls nur von Glück reden, Agnes Hegingers und Karlheinz Essls Dialog lauschen zu dürfen und: man kann nur hoffen, daß dieser Dialog fortgesetzt wird.
| 1 |
Breath Taking Agnes Heginger (vocals) & Karlheinz Essl (m@ze°2) |
6:19 |
| 2 |
In die kühlen Sterne Agnes Heginger (vocals)
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4:23 |
| 3 |
action rituelle Agnes Heginger (vocals) & Karlheinz Essl (m@ze°2) |
8:23 |
| 4 |
non Sequitur Karlheinz Essl (kalimba & live-electronics) |
7:07 |
| 5 |
AlleinGewirr Agnes Heginger (vocals with live-electronics)
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6:03 |
| 6 |
Groovin' Out Agnes Heginger (vocals) & Karlheinz Essl (m@ze°2) |
7:33 |
Groovin' Out: Agnes Heginger & Karlheinz Essl live at the Essl Museum
8 Dec 2009
Video: Anton Suterlüty
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Agnes Heginger
With an ease and a virtuosity that have become her trademark, Agnes Heginger works in a variety of different genres - be it as a lively soubrette in Roland Neuwirth's Schrammel-operetta 'Und das bei uns', be it as the precise singing voice for the Dada program of the group Pago Libre, or the powerful voice of the fiery duo program 'Jazz and Madness' with bassist Georg Breinschmid, just to name a few of Agnes' projects. Currently, Heginger is collaborating with pianist Paul Gulda (Friedrich Gulda's 'Galgenlieder') and accordionist Krzysztof Dobrek (Dobrek Bistro). In addition, she teaches at the jazz department of the Anton Bruckner University in Linz, and has been a guest lecturer at renowned institutions such as the University of Art in Berlin, or the Swiss Jazz School. CDs: „Songs And Other Noises“ Agnes Heginger (2002), „Fip Fop“ Forms Of Plasticity feat. Agnes Heginger (2003), „tanzen“ Duo mit dem Bassisten Georg Breinschmid (2005), „The Dark Is My Delight“ Ensemble Mikado, ORF Edition Alte Musik (2005), „platzDADA!“ Pago Libre Sextett (2009) - Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik, „Dr. Au“ Plasmic Quartett feat. Agnes Heginger (2009), „The Wiener Takes It All“ BoA BoA (2010), u.a. |
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Karlheinz Essl
Born 1960 in Vienna. Austrian composer, improviser and performer. He studied composition with Friedrich Cerha and musicology in Vienna (doctorate 1989 with a thesis on Anton Webern). As a double bassist, he played in chamber and jazz ensembles. Besides writing experimental music and composing electronic music, he performs on his own electronic instrument m@ze°2, develops software environments for computer-aided composition and creates generative sound and video environments – often in collaboration with artists from other fields. Essl erved as composer-in-residence at the Darmstadt Summer Courses (1990-94) and completed a commission for IRCAM. In 1997, he was presented at the Salzburg Festival with portrait concerts and sound installations. Since 1994, Karlheinz Essl curates experimental music concerts and sound installations at the Essl museum in Klosterneuburg. Between 1995-2006 he was teaching „Algorithmic Composition” at the Anton Bruckner University in Linz. Since 2007 he is professor of composition for electro-acoustic and experimental music at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. Beyond his work as a composer of experimental music, Karlheinz Essl has developed his own electronic instrument called m@ze°2, which is based on a computer program written in Max/MSP. Since 1998 he has been using his realtime composition environment predominantly for free improvised music. He has performed with the crème de la crème of avantgarde music. With his instrument Essl can interact spontaneously to any kind of sound environment or music utilizing a variety of external controllers and a video camera in order to shape the musical output. |
Many thanks to Jörg Duit for the liner notes, Robert Hoare for the translation, Anton Suterlütty for videotaping this concert and to the the people of net label XS Records for releasing this album on the Internet.
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Updated: 21 Feb 2021
