The Insect Hotel project is not limited to a single theme. It covers four different areas, so to speak. In addition to the central aspect of contemporary music, which goes hand in hand with poetry and literature as a form of musical art, it also deals with the world of insects. Very early on, a game developed that consisted of choosing a different language for each setting, for each number in the cycle.
Given the large number of languages worldwide, the cycle proves to be rather modest. With twenty-four settings of texts, each in a different language, it does not in any way claim to be exhaustive. Rather, it is a collection of scores and texts with the central theme of “insects,” with many variations that illuminate the species “insect” from different angles.
The project takes us through a world where languages and insect species are rapidly dying out. It is an adventure journey with countless diary entries and numerous overnight stays in insect hotels, where one can listen to the rustling of the creatures.
The 116-page booklet (in German, English, and French) contains all the texts set to music in all 24 languages with their respective translations.
Programme
Claude Lenners (*1954)
Insect Hotel
Cycle of 24 pieces in 24 languages
[01] French (Lambert Schlechter) for soprano, clarinet, and guitar
[02] English (William Shakespeare) for soprano, clarinet, and guitar
[03] Japanese (Chiyo-ni) for soprano, clarinet, guitar, and hand percussion
[04] Hungarian (fictional) for soprano, bass clarinet & guitar
[05] Hindi (proverb) for soprano, clarinet, guitar and chimes
[06] Italian (Gianfrancesco Maia Materdona) for soprano, bass clarinet & guitar
[07] Russian (Proverb) for soprano, bass clarinet & electric bass
[08] Icelandic (Statement) for soprano, clarinet & guitar
[09] Nahuatl (Facts) for soprano, clarinet, guitar & three ocarinas
[10] Dutch (Ernest Colbach) for soprano, clarinet, guitar & aluminum foil
[11] Latin (Virgil) for soprano, clarinet & guitar
[12] Modern Greek (Meleager) for soprano, clarinet, guitar & melodica
[13] Portuguese (Florbela Espanca) for soprano, clarinet & guitar
[14] Spanish (Pablo Neruda) for soprano, clarinet & guitar
[15] Arabic (Ancient Aphorism) for soprano, clarinet, guitar & hand percussion
[16] Czech (Franz Kafka) for soprano, contrabass clarinet, and prepared guitar
[17] Chinese (Bai Juyi) for soprano, clarinet, and erhu
[18] Zulu (Ernest Colbach) for soprano, balafon, and temple block
[19] Swedish (Statement) for soprano, clarinet, and guitar
[20] Hebrew (Fictional) for soprano, clarinet, electric bass, and melodica
[21 ]German (Günter Grass) for soprano, clarinet, and guitar
[22] Esperanto (Utopian) for soprano, clarinet, and guitar
[23] Haitian Creole (Ernest Colbach) for soprano, clarinet, and banjo
[24] Luxembourgish (Unknown) for soprano, clarinet, and guitar
Total playing time: 72:45
Ensemble Noise Watchers Unlimited
soprano, clarinet & guitar / some hand percussion
World premiere recordings
Biographies
Composer Claude Lenners (born 1956) studied at the conservatories of Luxembourg and Strasbourg, as well as musicology at the University of Human Sciences II in Strasbourg. His catalog of works includes a large number of chamber music scores, symphonic works, and several stage works. He is the founder of the rainy days festival, where he was artistic director until 2005, founder of the a.s.b.l. Noise Watchers Unlimited, and founder of the electronic music class at the Conservatory of the City of Luxembourg.
The Noise Watchers Unlimited ensemble is based in Luxembourg and is dedicated to performing new and current works of contemporary music. It usually plays in a small chamber music ensemble and performs regularly at the annual rainy days festival of the Philharmonie Luxembourg.
More information
Catalogue number: NEOS 12307
EAN: 4260063123078
