Fringe Music
Stockhausen Tierkreis 40th Anniversary Concert
Canongate Kirk
Miranda Heggie
Four stars
As part of a year long touring project to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Karl Heinz Stockhausen’s Tierkreis (signs of the Zodiak), organist Mark Spalding and percussionist Haworth Hodgkinson presented the work in the beautiful surroundings of Canongate Kirk. As a prelude to the main event, Spalding played a brief programme of contemporary and 20th century organ music, the positioning of the organ at the back of the church adding to the contemplative nature of what was an immersive musical experience. His interpretation of 4 versetti from Kurtag’s Játékok (games) vol IV, originally written for piano, saw him bring out the many tones and voices of the Kirk’s Frobenius pipe organ, while Messiaen’s Monodie was an almost hypnotic wash of sound.
Improvising on percussion, Hodkinson brings a theatrical element to the duo’s performance of Tierkreis, ingeniously layering tones and textures. He produced a phenomenal array of sounds, from calm and celestial shimmers to terrific thunderous ruptures, which combined with Spalding’s potent, authoritative organ playing made for a memorable performance of the work.
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