Walden
Heiner Goebbels’ Walden sets texts by 19th century naturalist Henry David Thoreau, a grandfather of both modern environmentalism and civil disobedience. Thoreau’s experiment of living by Walden Pond — where civilization appeared only as the distant sound of a railroad — propagated a radical, solitary, spartan individualism promising a simple harmony with nature.
Conceived as a counterpoint to the metropolitan images conjured in his earlier work Surrogate Cities, Heiner Goebbels originally composed Walden in 1998 for the Ensemble Modern Orchestra with Bob Rutman narrating. For this new version Goebbels worked closely with Ensemble Klang’s regular line-up of saxophones, trombone, guitar, percussion and keyboards, adding string quintet and Keir Neuringer as the narrator.
With a number of specially-built instruments playing key roles — particularly the Bob Rutman designed ‘steel cello’ and ‘bow chimes’ which resonate their sound through large sheets of steel — the hour-long work is full of evocative sounds and features nine vibrant, image-rich movements.
“I have been waiting for such an effective and creative adaption of my Walden for 10 years. Ensemble Klang made it!” Heiner Goebbels
- 1 Mar 2008 (ensemble version)
Featured in
Performances
- 7 Nov 2013, November Music, Verkadefabriek, Den Bosch
- 6 Nov 2013, De Doelen, Rotterdam
- 5 Nov 2013, Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Amsterdam
- 23 Jun 2012, Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham (UK)
- 17 Jun 2012, Theater Rigiblick, Zurich, Switzerland
- 19 Sep 2010, Mousonturm, Frankfurt
- 15 Sep 2010, Dampfzentrale, Bern
- 30 Aug 2008, Nazomer-festival, Grote Kerk Veere, Zeeland
- 28 Aug 2008, Noorderzonfestival, Noord Nederlands Theater, Groningen
- 2 May 2008, Lantaren Venster, Rotterdam
- 2 Mar 2008, Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Amsterdam
- 1 Mar 2008, Kees van Baarenzaal, The Hague
Heiner Goebbels
The composer and director Heiner Goebbels (b. 1952) belongs to the most important exponents of the contemporary music and theatre scene. His compositions for ensembles and big orchestras – published by Ricordi Berlin – are currently performed worldwide as well as several of his music theatre works and staged concerts, mostly produced by Théâtre Vidy Lausanne, the Ensemble Modern and International Festival of the Arts Ruhrtriennale. He created a great variety of sound and video installations, which have been displayed by Artangel London, MAC Lyon, Museum Mathildenhöhe Darmstadt, Albertinum Dresden and others.