I had the privilege of experiencing a concert of Karlheinz Stockhausen's Sternklang (Sound of Stars) in Vienna.
Sternklang was composed in 1971 by the contemporary musician Stockhausen and is based on the concept of five groups performing under the night sky in a park. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sternklang)
Each of the five groups' performances are said to derive their pitches and tones based on constellations as musical figures, and the performances of each group combine to form a single piece of music. It is a lengthy piece of music, taking approximately three hours to complete.
Audience members are free to move around the space while the music is being performed, and can stay where they want. Different locations naturally change the sound of the group heard, allowing the audience to proactively enjoy the sound and space.
Although the event was held indoors and it was not possible to see the starlit sky (naturally, it was not possible due to the season), the spatial expanse of the Reaktor facility and the atmosphere of the building itself combined to create a fascinating and extraordinary space. Each room was completely different in size and structure, so we were able to enjoy a different acoustic experience in each room as well as the differences in performance between the groups.
All audience members can watch the performers and dancers (who hold lights that resemble bonfires and move between rooms as they perform), close their eyes and listen intently, or simply immerse themselves in a meditative experience.
The group composition, spatial arrangement, and other hurdles to realize a concert of this work are quite high, and the efforts of the MIKAMO Central European Chamber Orchestra and the people involved in Reakter are admirable.
Personally, I have always wished that such musical opportunities would become more accessible. In this case, people came to listen to this work, but I hope it will spread to the point where people who have never been interested in music before will encounter it on a street corner.
For more information on this concert, click here.http:/mikamo.info/sternklangwien
Learn more about the venue Reakter
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