Slagwerk Den Haag

The 7th International Pharos Contemporary Music Festival opens on Friday 2 October 2015 with an all-percussion concert by the renowned Dutch percussion group Slagwerk Den Haag (SDH). Not an ordinary percussion ensemble, SDH excels both in the established percussion repertoire as well as in improvisations on custom-made percussion instruments made of unconventional and every-day use material.

SLAGWERK DEN HAAG (SDH)
“…a dazzling percussion group, similarly combined virtuosity and theatricality…” The New York Times
".. one of the most venerable and important percussion groups in the world!" Steven Schick

Ever since its inception, in 1977, the Dutch percussion ensemble Slagwerk Den Haag (SDH) has been fascinated by every little sound and pulse, as well as uncustomary materials that can produce sound. These unique percussionists are also highly versatile creators and co-creators, enriching their repertoire time after time in every setting imaginable and amazing the audiences all over the world. The Ensemble performs both on the traditional arsenal of percussion instruments but also on custom-made percussion instruments made of unconventional material such as porcelain, glass or 3D-printed objects. The members of the SDH are always on the quest for the undiscovered; as a consequence, their projects reflect the very latest developments. The Ensemble collaborates closely with influential artists and musicians, such as composers Steve Reich, Michael Gordon and Yannis Kyriakides, pianist Ralph van Raat, dance company Club Guy & Roni, and illustrator Wouter van Reek. Leading partners from other disciplines include Orkater, Asko|Schönberg, Veenfabriek and Kytopia. SDH’s playing field is extensive: from the Bang on a Can Festival in New York to Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ in Amsterdam, from the Holland Festival to the slums of Cairo and from a classroom to the Dutch Oerol Festival. The Ensemble regularly tours in Europe, Japan, the US, the Middle East, and more recently in Indonesia. Apart from their highly impressive concert schedule, SDH is also involved in dance performances, education programmes and music theatre.

PROGRAMME:
Along improvisations SDH will perform the following works:
Philip Glass (b.1937): 1 + 1
Steve Reich (b.1936): Drumming
Guo Wenjing (b.1956): Parade (Cyprus Premiere)
Hugo Morales Murguia (b.1979): Excerpts from Phobia-production (Cyprus Premiere)
Javier Álvarez (b.1956): Temazcal for amplified maracas and electroacoustic sounds (Cyprus Premiere)

Information: Pharos Arts Foundation Tel. (+357) 22-663871 / www.pharosartsfoundation.org
Box Office: Directly from the Foundation’s website www.pharosartsfoundation.org/Tickets_online.htm or Tel. 9666-9003 (Monday - Friday 10:00am-3:00pm

The event is part of the 7th International Pharos Contemporary Music Festival