Even though public events still cannot take place, ON – Neue Musik Köln offers a musical programme
on 4th and 5th of July 2021 with the unique project »Wir bringen die Blase zum Platzen«, which seeks the spirit of Ludwig van Beethoven in experimental music. The versatility and size of the free, experimental music scene in Cologne is the focus here and will be presented analogue and digitally through numerous
window concerts, livestreams, behind-the-scenes insights and music videos.
After more than a year of intensive preparation, the musicians and organisers regret not being able to play the urban project »Wir bringen die Blase zum Platzen« in public spaces in Cologne, but creative restructuring nevertheless allows ON to experience musical performances in compliance with applicable protective measures.
Bringing the independent scene into the centre of urban society – tearing contemporary music out of its usual orbits – seeking confrontation with a new audience with experimental sounds, that was the aim of »Wir bringen die Blase zum Platzen«.
The continued ban on contacts, concerts and mixed publicity strikes at the heart of the project!
Nevertheless, we are using the digital possibilities to present the players and venues of experimental music in Cologne and to take a look at the long tradition of a scene that still too often goes under the radar. As a creative nucleus of sonic ventures, the independent scene is in the best tradition of Ludwig van Beethoven, who, like the majority of musicians today, earned his living through teaching and composition commissions. Especially in these times of crisis, we would like to use Beethoven’s radiance to shed light on the pandemic-ridden working reality of freelance musicians.
Thus, ON – Neue Musik Köln will continue to offer a colourful programme on 4 and 5 June 2021, with window concerts, livestreams, beyond-the-scene insights and music videos that put the spotlight on the independent contemporary music scene in Cologne – come along, we’ll burst the bubble!
»Variazioni e un pianoforte meccanico« by Klarenz Barlow
with Kristi Becker, Marlies Debacker, Simon Rummel, Felix Knoblauch
Livestream from Artrmx in Köln-Ehrenfeld
hosted by Daniel Mennicken
Window concerts in the courts of Agnesviertels
with Etienne Nillesen, Hanna Schörken, Victor Gelling, Salim Javaid, Carl Ludwig Hübsch, Angelika Sheridan, Anne Krickeberg
Insights into the window concerts are on our ON Instagram-Kanal
Ensemble hand werk
with new pieces by Dariya Maminova, Tamon Yashima and Żaneta Rydzewska
behind-the-scenes insights on Facebook
With a publication we would like to communicate the practice of experimental music to the outside
world in a playful way and present Cologne’s independent music scene with interviews, texts and a photo series.
»Wir bringen die Blase zum Platzen« is funded by BTHVN2020 with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media. In addition, ON gratefully acknowledges the kind support of the City of Cologne, the DOMFORUM, the Werbegemeinschaft Breite Straße GbR and the Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe KVB.
