Environments (Peter Adriaansz)

Peter Adriaansz’s Environments is an evening-long reflection on humankind and society. Over lusciously rich harmonies and constantly encircling sounds, spoken word texts pose questions about how we fill our days, how we pass the time, and what the purpose might be of our intellectual, spiritual and political pursuits.

In this profoundly personal 85 minute work, Peter Adriaansz’s largest to date, an amplified ensemble is built around an array of specially tuned guitars, winds, vibraphones, Bayan, keyboards and synthesizers. We hear texts from Robert Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, beat philosopher Alan Watts and an expanded version of The Principle of Polarity (as formulated in the mysterious Kybalion).

The audience are immersed in a sound world, with instruments, texts and electronics coming from in front, behind and above. In this special ‘in the round’ setting, Environments delivers a simultaneously intimate and expansive experience.

This work by one of the Netherlands’ most lauded composers, and one of Ensemble Klang’s closest collaborators, is decidedly idealistic. Environments‘ own pursuit could even be called ‘Utopian’.