Seven young composers are aiming high. The Composition Workshop: Composing at HEAVENLY HEIGHTS offers the unique opportunity to do just that: at a height of 68 meters - in the Türmerstube of Linz's Mariendom - the composers will draw inspiration for the creation of their polyphonic vocal works based on biblical texts, which will be premiered in a concert by Cantando Admont on 17 October 2024.
A workshop with sound artist Sam Auinger, cathedral organist Wolfgang Kreuzhuber and cathedral conductor Andreas Peterl marked the start of the composition workshop. Inspired by Bruckner's footsteps in Ansfelden, St. Florian and Linz, inspired by St. Mary's Cathedral and accompanied by professional musicians, the path led three of the seven sound creators - 395 steps away from the hustle and bustle of the city - to the Türmerstube, where they were able to tune into the church space in this composing room. One of them is Tina Geroldinger, who summarized: "Borderline genius and surreal, but true!" Jakob Böttcher, who has planned a digital detox: "Just pen, paper and an inner ear" are the order of the day. Böttcher, who is still busy selecting the biblical text, "is already working hard on the piece", he reveals: "In this composition it is clear: first comes the space, then the music."
Wolfgang Kreuzhuber confirms this spatial focus: "Young composers create music for this space, which is unique in its acoustics and extremely challenging due to its size." Sam Auinger is also looking forward to sound experiments in and with Austria's largest church: "The aim is to explore the magic of architecture as a space for sound and experience with young composers and to question Bruckner's music and its significance for their own musical work today." And we can already look forward to this musical creation by the seven composers from the highest heights
Further information on the composition workshop can be found here: