Flemish composer Wim Henderickx surprises with a multimedia 'missa brevis' for solo soprano, five-part female choir, instrumental trio and electronics. The composition is a universal message of love and tolerance, viewed from different cultures. Henderickx found his inspiration in mystical visions and writings of the mystic Hadewijch and the Sufi poet Rumi.
Revelations, which recently appeared on cd, is the result of a collaboration between Henderickx and HERMESensemble, Vlaams Radiokoor, soprano Lore Binon and Muziektheater Transparant.
Other cultures
Wim Henderickx (Lier, 1962) studied composition and percussion at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Antwerpen and sonology at Ircam in Paris and the Koninklijk Conservatorium in Den Haag. His compositions are influenced by other cultures, including Eastern philosophy. Henderickx is a declared admirer of the meditative compositions of Olivier Messiaen. He has written works in various instrumental settings for opera, music theater, (chamber) orchestra, choir and wind band. Electronics have an important place in his work, partly inspired by Greek composer Iannis Xenakis. He has been composer in residence at Muziektheater Transparant since 1996. In 2013 he became artist in residence with Antwerp Symphony Orchestra. Henderickx teaches composition at the Koninklijk Conservatorium Antwerpen and at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. He is also head teacher of the annual SoundMine summer composition course for young composers at Musica in Neerpelt.
Jihad of love
Around the premiere in 2017, Wim Henderickx said: "I drew inspiration from medieval and early Renaissance music, mixed with music from the Middle East. We must not forget that the original Gregorian music was strongly influenced by Jewish synagogal chants and music from the Middle East. The character Hadewijch is a source of inspiration but it could just as easily have been Mohamed El Bachiri who lost his wife in the metro station of Maalbeek. After this tragic event he preaches the 'jihad of love', in which he gives people hope and fights for a religion without hatred. For him humanism stands above religion. If I can convey that positive message with Revelations, then I would be very happy."
Cross-pollination
Revelations is the third work in which Henderickx collaborates on cd with HERMESensemble. HERMESensemble (Antwerpen, 2000) is a collective that engages in cross-pollinations with early music, jazz, pop, non-Western music and electronics in changing formations. The productions aim at synergies with theater, dance, visual arts, video, film and multimedia.
Soprano Lore Binon (Blanden, 1985) has in recent years focused on contemporary music. She sang Schönberg's Pierrot Lunaire and toured with the ensemble Ictus. She can also be heard in Drumming (Steve Reich) with Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker's company Rosas.
Muziektheater Transparant completes Henderickx's relentless need to integrate other art forms. The company brings together artists and ensembles and has an outward perspective. It seeks to reach a broad audience with productions that are socially relevant. Henderickx and Transparant also have a fruitful shared history: Achilleus (2002), Void (2007) and Medea (2009) are some examples.
Mass celebration
The cd is structured in four parts of the classical mass ordinarium, supplemented with an introduction, and concluded with an Alleluia and an epilogue. The introduction is a modest invitation to the celebration. Viola and flute play seemingly loose motifs and the female choir winds around them wordlessly. Here and there the percussionist announces himself with a roguish roll. The direction seems loose-handed but as the Kyrie approaches, it becomes apparent that the pieces fit together precisely. The musical interpretation of the sense of sin in Henderickx's Kyrie is not bound to Western cultures. On a blanket of snow created by strings, Gregorian passages, Asian reed players and Arabic vibrations (Lore Binon) slide together as if by themselves. Only in the meditative section do the harmonies come to the fore.
The Vatican authorities in Vatican City could learn something from the following Gloria: the strings lead the praise in double stops, the theme is provided with ornamentations in crescendo and the choir sings a text. The Sanctus begins with an interplay of flute and keyboard, after which the mystery of faith gains relief from the long echoing lines of the choir.
Angel hair
Strings and electronics (Jorrit Tamminga) introduce the Agnus Dei with minimalist sobriety. The bells seem to be touched by angel hair. The choir performs this section with a moving sense of melodic significance. The cd closes with the epilogue Resonance, the longest piece, where a distant flute and a dull percussion color the slightly dissonant lines of the wordless choir. Electronic wisps of mist and a whispering Lore Binon take the listener across a flat grey sea of timelessness.
- WHAT: Revelations – Wim Henderickx
- WHO: Lore Binon (soprano), Vlaams Radiokoor, HERMESensemble (Karin De Fleyt - flute, Marc Tooten - viola), Jorrit Tamminga (electronics), Wim Henderickx (percussion, musical direction) & Muziektheater Transparant (Wouter Van Looy - direction, Kurt d'Haeseleer - image).
- PHOTOS: Milan Henderickx, imagomundi, Vimeo, Koen Broos
- RELEASE: Antarctica Records, 2021 AR 025
- ORDER: JPC
- TO SEE: Thursday 11 March 8 PM deSingel OnLive