the performer:
Rolf Hind (piano)
the programme:
a selection of new pieces written for Rolf Hind + Adams Phrygian Gates
about the music:
At the beginning of lockdown, pianist Rolf Hind wanted to keep the artistic relationships with composers and musicians alive by commissioning short pieces to reflect our times.
He received nearly one hundred responses, from every corner of the world, and has chosen a small selection of favourites to perform in this concert.
We really don’t know much about these at all: how many pieces there will be, what styles they will be written in, what the composer’s influences are, etc. It’s going to be really exciting hearing brand new, fresh music played by one of the best musicians for new compositions in the world.
John Adams at BBC Adams Festival, 2002, where he conducted Rolf Hind in Phrygian Gates
What we do know is that the concert will finish with the minimalist composer John Adams, and Phrygian Gates - a piece the composer deemed to be the first which demonstrated his distinct personal style.
This style fits under the umbrella term ‘minimalism’: in musical terms, simply a use of limited or ‘minimal’ musical materials. In the case of Phrygian Gates, the main musical materials are based on a repeating motif which is present throughout pretty much the whole piece.
You’re able to both hear and see that in action throughout this recording of the piece by Gloria Cheng, which is set to a video of the score - listen to the opening 30 seconds or so, and then skip to any part of the video (which is the first 10 minutes of the piece).
Notice that - although the music has developed, with extra bits added in or played at a different dynamic to name a couple of changes - the repeating motif from the start is always present in some form.
You can understand more about how the piece is structured from its title, Phrygian Gates - the Phrygian part refers to the phrygian mode, a specific type of scale.
Adams’ plan was to cycle through the 12 traditional keys (if you look at a piano, these are made up of all the notes including the black and white keys before the pattern starts repeating).
Since Adams is using modal scales - the Phrygian in particular - there are actually 14 sections in this piece. Each section brings a change in character. Not only are they marked by a change in harmony, but also in rhythm and texture - from shimmery waves to heavy blocks of sound. See if you can count all 14!
about the performer:
Londoner born and bred, Rolf Hind is the best in the business when it comes to contemporary piano music. He’s worked with a large number of the most prominent living composers, some of whom specify that Hind has to be the pianist to play their new work - it’s going to be really exciting to see him premiering more new music.
Hind has worked extensively with John Adams, so his rendition of Phrygian Gates is one not to miss - he played the piece at BBC’s Adams Festival at the Barbican in 2002 which was conducted by Adams himself, and as a result the composer asked him to play on his album, Road Movies.
the venue:
Kings Place is a young, independently-funded arts venue in the heart of King’s Cross, who aim to have a programme just as diverse, engaging and innovative as the city we live in.
It’s perfectly placed in the heart of the redeveloped King’s Cross quarter - across the canal from Granary Square, and around the corner from the recently opened Coal Drops Yard.
They also have a great young people’s programme in place - for some specially selected concerts at the venue you can pick up tickets for around half the price, and with no booking fee.
These tickets aren’t available to select on the booking page, and they can only be collected at the Box Office with proof of ID - give them a ring to check availability and reserve if you’re not able to drop in before the event.
the price:
£15 (£8.50 for under 30s)