The Transcendentalists Tour, named after the eponymous EP, featuring modern classical composers and players Dustin O’Halloran, Jhann Jhannsson and Hauschka, takes in only eight cities across Europe and promises to be one of the summers highlight shows so far in Berlin. Heimathafen in Neuklln provides a fairly decent setting for the night I’m sure you’ll agree.
The EP features pieces by each of the artists performing tonight and it is, well, do I need to say it? You can listen to the Transcendental EP here though Fat Cat Records’ website.
Berlin-based Dustin O’Halloran played a show at HBC in March last year which I plugged by simply putting up videos and not saying much about him because I’d much rather listen to his music. Although I am tempted to do more or less the same thing this time I will, however, add this link to his gorgeous debut release on Berlin’s Sonic Pieces label, which has quietly been releasing astounding records for some time now, it’s called Vorleben and was recorded live in the Grunewaldkirche here in Berlin.
Vorleben’ is an album that will make a lasting impression on all those looking for heart-warming, introspective piano music that is as much memorable as it is refreshingly beautiful
Jhann Jhannsson is an Icelandic composer of considerable influence on contemporary classical, or post-classical composers, if you prefer such a term:
The BBC has called him “an intrepid musical enigma”[1] and his work has been called “elegant, haunting and melancholic”.[2] His music is frequently informed by minimalism, film music, baroque musicand drone music and combines classical orchestration with electronic music .
Hauschka is Volker Bertelmann and is a genius. See video below.
This is a live one from the afforementioned show in HBC, followed by an amazing early piece of Jhann Jhannsson’s and the incredible Hauschka doing a mind-boggling improvisation below that:
