Black Angels

Koehne Quartett

Joanna Lewis | violin, percussion, vocals
Anne-Harvey Nagl | violin, percussion, vocals
Lena Fankhauser | viola, percussion, vocals
Melissa Coleman | cello, percussion, vocals

“Black Angels” was one of David Bowie’s favourite pieces, side by side with works by James Brown, Richard Strauss, and The Velvet Underground. George Crumb’s entire œuvre defies categorisation; the US American wrote music about many things, from the Moon landing to whale songs. Black Angels brought Crumb international fame. His criticism of the Vietnam War is just one of the many facets and references in the piece: the three sections chart a journey of the soul. The numbers 7 and 13 specify the structure and symbolic content. It cites Gregorian chants and works by Schubert. Alongside four electrically amplified string instruments, the score also calls for various forms of percussion as well as speaking, whispering, and shouting, all this in keeping with meticulous, precise guidelines. Many days (and nights) could be spent exploring this dark work.

Founded in 1987, the Koehne Quartet is one of the most important international ensembles for contemporary music. Performances around the world with unique and challenging programmes have marked the path of this formation, which has already treated Imago Dei to many unforgettable hours.

And the four musicians will play Black Angels twice! In between, they will comment the music – under the protection, as it were, of the four music-making angels that have been hovering up in the vault of the church choir since 1400.

George Crumb (1929–2022)

Black Angels (1970)
Thirteen Images from the Dark Land

I. DEPARTURE
Threnody I: Night of the Electric Insects
Sounds of Bones and Flutes
Lost Bells
Devil-music
Danse Macabre

II. ABSENCE
Pavana Lachrymae
Threnody II: Black Angels!
Sarabanda de la Muerte Oscura
Lost Bells (Echo)

III. RETURN
God-music
Ancient Voices
Ancient Voices (Echo)
Threnody III: Night of the Electric Insects