Cikada & Qasim Naqvi
Adventures in the synth chamber
A minimalist meeting between Cikada and a US synth innovator
Salvatore Sciarrino: Trio No. 2 per violino, violoncello e pianoforte (1987)
Qasim Naqvi: Teenages (2019/22) (orchestred by Gregor Riddell)
Qasim Naqvi: Agnus Dei Transmutations I (WP, 2022)
Qasim Naqvi: Agnus Dei Transmutations II (WP, 2022)
Leading Norwegian contemporary chamber group Cikada present a programme of challenging and exciting works, old and new. Tonight they combine an avant garde milestone by Italian composer Salvatore Sciarrino with three electronic/synthesizer pieces by US-Pakistani composer and musician Qasim Naqvi.
Naqvi’s music is heard in many contexts, from art installations and traditional concert halls to his drumming in US underground trio Dawn of Midi. His compositions attempt to unite the sonic language of textured avant garde music by Scelsi and Xenakis, with the drone science of younger musicians like Hildur Guðnadóttir, Sarah Davachi and Kali Malone.
Agnus Dei Transmutations I and II are new works for modular synthesizer have an almost processional, religious character reminiscent of Gregorian chant. Inspired by the Liber Usualis, Naqvi used a recorder ensemble and time stretched their performance of certain repertoire from this book of Gregorian chants-transcribing and re-imagining them for modular synthesizer. Pt.I is a solo work for modular synthesizer and Pt.II is a full ensemble work for Naqvi and Cikada.
Qasim Naqvi. Photo Smriti Keshari.
Cikada.
