Sedje Hémon - Hidden Agreements

Sedje Hémon: Hidden Agreements is a new program conceived by composer Andrius Arutiunian and artist Marianna Maruyama, and performed by Ensemble Modelo62. It presents the rediscovered work of Dutch composer and artist Sedje Hémon (1923-2011). Hémon, a Shoah survivor who subsequently worked in The Hague for most of her life, developed a unique approach of translating the visual into the sonic. Described as a “method of integration”, this approach resulted in fervent explorations of sound and image in Hémon’s striking compositions.

After many years of quiet waiting, Hémon's work now returns to the public with fresh energy. During Documenta 14, which attracted over a million visitors, Hémon's painting scores were shown in Kassel and Athens. The Stedelijk Museum has around twenty works by Hémon in the collection. The work Pas de Quatre (1964) is currently on show in STEDELIJK BASE.

The Hidden Agreements program consists of two compositions by Sedje Hémon that have not been heard in public for nearly four decades, and two new compositions by Marianna Maruyama and Andrius Arutiunian that take Hémon's multidisciplinary approach to sound and image as their starting point. Translation into movement, repetitive bodies, virtual reality and digital decay – these are the core themes of the new works, relating directly to Hémon's writings and practice.

PROGRAM

19.30     Doors open
19.45     Welcome and Introduction
19.55     First set:
                The Assistants by Marianna Maruyama
                Lignes Ondulatoires by Sedje Hémon (arranged by Lise Morrison)

20.30     Short break

20.40     Second set:
                Mouvement d’un adagio by Sedje Hémon (arranged by Yael Levy)
                Deserted steps by Andrius Arutiunian

21.15     End of program

ABOUT ENSEMBLE MODELO62

Through a combination of ambitious and innovative programming and a high level of virtuosity, the Dutch-based Ensemble Modelo62 has earned an outstanding international reputation in experimental contemporary music.

The name Modelo62 was inspired by the playful precision evoked in the novels of Julio Cortázar. It refers to Cortázar’s model in which all members act independently while linked together to form a whole that is greater than the sum of the parts. This dynamic cohesion leads to tight, energetic performances that bring compositions to life, and it has garnered acclaim from critics and audiences alike. The collaborative intention also shows itself in the musicians’ remarkably open approach to experimentation, encouraging the stimulation of new ideas and techniques across a variety of musical styles.

A main goal of Ensemble Modelo62 is to form close collaborations with composers, taking risks to develop new work and talent, and to combine the commissioning of young or upcoming composers with those from more established generations. These commissions form a large part of the ensemble’s growing repertoire. Averaging over a dozen world premieres per year, hundreds of tailor-made premieres have already accumulated over the current lifespan of the ensemble.

Ensemble Modelo62 has not only collaborated with composers, but also shows strong versatility through its many interdisciplinary projects: performances in musical theatre, operas, dance, videos, installations, solo works, chamber music, and large ensemble works.

With a growing and substantial international profile, Modelo62 has toured Mexico, Argentina, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Germany. This has included festivals such as at the Centre of Experimentation of Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires), Internationale Ferienkurse für Neue Musik (Darmstadt, Germany), Festival Tou Scene (Stavanger, Norway), Toonzetters (Amsterdam), Dag in de Branding (Den Haag), November Music (Den Bosch), and the Gaudeamus Muziekweek (Utrecht).

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