Bowerbird is pleased to present violin and synthesizer duo Tiziana Bertoncini and Thomas Lehn with opening set by Tom Borax playing microtonal harpsichord.

The duo have been collaborating since 2002. The special feature of the duo is the alchemy created by the meeting of the classical and the electronic instrument. The different nature of sound, the characteristics and histories of violin and analogue synthesizer could recall a friction. Actually, what happens is a sort of mirror game, in which the roles of the instruments are continuously exchanged. Bertoncini and Lehn move in an abstract territory, their approach to sound is contemporary. Nevertheless their consideration to music is quite classical insofar as based principally on tension/release, rupture, intensity and expressivity in all its facets. The duo will also be performing at the High Zero Festival in Baltimore.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Thomas Lehn is a pianist, analogue synthesizer player and a composer-performer of contemporary music. He has been one of the most innovative and successful musical personalities in the field of electroacoustic music in the practices of improvisation and composition for years. He was trained as a sound engineer and pianist at the music academies in Detmold and Cologne from 1979 to 1987. Rooted in the experiences as an pianist, he has been developing his unique live electronic music since the early 1990s, focusing on the use of analog synthesizer systems, which allow direct access to the elements of electronic sound synthesis. As a synthesizer interpreter – live and on CD studio productions – he has realized works by Éliane Radigue, Roman Haubenstock-Ramati, Bogusław Schaeffer and Zbigniew Karkowski, among others. He was soloist in the world premiere of Peter Jakober’s dort with Klangforum Wien at musikprotokoll festival and in the CD recording of Christopher Fox’s Topophony with the WDR Symphony Orchestra.

Tiziana Bertoncini graduated with a Master in Violin at Siena Conservatory and a Master in Painting at the Fine Arts’ Academy in Carrara. Completed by Studies in Art history, and specialization masterclasses for chamber music and music didactics.
After being playing in orchestras and chamber music ensembles, she focused on contemporary music, written and improvised. Her work is developing from interpretation ad improvisation towards composition and collaboration with artists of other medias. At the same time her interest is focused on the crossing and synthesis between visual elements and music/sound.
She has been performing in many international festivals and contexts and has been part of numerous dance, theatre, video and multi-media projects, contributing the musical part of them. Her solo work includes composition, performance and installation.

Tom Borax aka “Tom Boram” is a Baltimore native, multimedia artist and musician. His live performances are all improvised, focusing on intense physical techniques on the modular synthesizer and the harpsichord. His synthesizer work takes on a much more gestural approach than what is usually thought of with the instrument, going from whisper quiet to explosive dynamics, comprising sounds ranging from the natural – water, human digestion, storms, animals – to the unnatural: broken radios, rocket launches, and fax machines. His harpsichord playing utilizes unique tunings – dissonant mathematical temperaments or Eastern/Asian intonations – and uses the shimmering overtones of the instrument to create synthetic-sounding shards of sound, fractured melody, and swarming textures. Borax is a founder of Baltimore’s High Zero Festival and Improvised and Experimental Music, which is now enjoyings its 26th year.

Supported in part by BMKÖS Austria