Tansy Davies’s time as Composer in Residence at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw will culminate in May with the premiere of a new work for the Asko|Schönberg Ensemble. Scored for 10 players – with important roles for accordion and electric guitar – the substantial piece will be performed alongside Davies’s salt box.
Kingpin and Arabescos in France
In recent months two Davies works have received their French premieres, with members of Ensemble intercontemporain performing the oboe-piano duo Arabescos, and the Orchestre de l’Opéra de Rouen giving the French premiere of Kingpin.
Named after the only part of the Model T engine that Henry Ford supposedly found never wore out, Kingpin doesn’t so much conjure a vision of gleaming steel and laser precision, but one of grey steam and black oil. Rhythms and melodies push and pull against one another, now and again finding harmony and peace. But the machines are always moving, always turning in this 6-minute work for chamber orchestra, and nothing can stay still.
These French outings are part of a growing number of international performances, which also include the Danish premiere of neon by the Athelas Ensemble in March, and a performance of Aquatic by members of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra.