Beyond The Roots LARGE ENSEMBLE – Blessings

How far can musical identity be thought - and what opens up beyond its roots? The Beyond the Roots Large Ensemble has dedicated itself to precisely this question for years. In its transcultural cosmos of sound, instruments and forms of expression from different traditions meet at eye level and form a multi-layered orchestral structure. Sonic impulses from Persian, Indian and Japanese music enter into a dialog with Turkish folklore, Central European art traditions and contemporary jazz. The result is music that sees origin not as a boundary, but as a starting point for new artistic perspectives.

This time, Antonis Anissegos, a founding member of the ensemble and the defining musical voice of its work to date, will be the artistic director. For this project, he is developing the program "BLESSINGS", a composition about connection, memory and spiritual experience. The starting point are texts from Anam Cara by the Irish philosopher John O'Donohue, which reflect the wisdom of Celtic culture. The Irish word pair "Anam Cara" - soul friend - describes a deep form of human and spiritual closeness. In Anissegos' setting, these thoughts become a poetic sound journey that transcends cultural boundaries and opens up new spaces for listening.

Instrumentation
Annette Maye - clarinet
Hindol Deb - sitar
Bassem Hawar - Djoze
Albrecht Maurer - violin, electronics
Kioomars Musayyebi - santoor
Kerstin de Witt - recorder
Carl-Ludwig Hübsch - tuba
Eva Zöllner - accordion
Anil Eraslan - cello
Antonis Anissegos - piano
Oded Geizhals - percussion
Michael Griener - drums
Golnar Shahyar - vocals
Mahan Mirarab - guitar
Damir Bacikin - trumpet