NYKY Ensemble: Postminimalism
Sibelius Academy’s NYKY Ensemble performs significant pieces of postminimalism
![](https://www.uniarts.fi/uploads/2023/12/25b34989-1920x1080_w0a0538_2-1200x675.jpg)
In a concert curated by Juhani Nuorvala and Matthew Whittal, the NYKY Ensemble of the Sibelius Academy takes on significant and rarely-performed postminimalist works. The solo piano works of William Duckworth and Kyle Gann bring variety to the performance as well as serving as illustrative classics of the postminimalist style.
The postminimalist style was born in the late 20th century as a continuation of the minimalist movement that pushed the boundaries of minimalist aesthetics towards greater diversity. Postminimalist composers used richer and more complex harmonics and musical elements. Many of the composers were also influenced by other music styles, such as jazz, rock and music from various regions of the world.
Programme
- Philip Glass: Head-On (1967)
- for piano trio
- Mikel Rouse: Quick Thrust (1985)
- for soprano saxophone, drums, keyboard and electric bass
- William Duckworth: The Time Curve Preludes (1979) for solo piano
- No. 7
- No. 9
- No. 11
- William Duckworth: Blue Rhythm
- for piano trio
- Meredith Monk: Stringsongs (2005)
- for string quartet
– intermission –
- Kyle Gann: Nocturne No. 6 – Spectral Dance (2023)
- for solo piano
- Jocelyn Morlock: Stone’s Throw (2018)
- for pierrot ensemble and marimba
- Kyle Gann: Private Dances (2000/4) for solo piano
- No. 2 Sad
- No. 4 Sultry
- No. 5 Saintly
- Michael Torke: October (2017)
- for bass clarinet and string quartet
- Michael Gordon: Yo Shakespeare! (1992)
- for ensemble
Performers
- Atte Kilpeläinen, music coaching
- Juhani Nuorvala and Matthew Whittall, programme curation
NYKY Ensemble
- Tuule-Helin Krigul, flute and pan flute
- Jānis Vītols, flute and pan flute
- Gracia Ortega Navarro, clarinets
- Juho Palonen, saxophones
- Ilta Attila, saxophones
- Jussi Littunen, piano and keyboard
- Kiia Nordlund, piano and keyboard
- Tsotne Sidamonidze, piano and keyboard
- Wilhelm Pilch, piano
- Iivari Aalto, piano
- Kiia-Maria Piispa, accordion
- Pietari Huhtinen, percussion
- Ana Rita da Silva Santos, violin
- Alexis Mauritz, violin
- Lena Marie-puig, violin
- Katrīna Pelnēna, viola
- Ärla Hillerud, cello
- Bruno Lima, cello
- Nico Vicente Antolin, cello
- Kukka Lukkarinen, electric guitar
- Mark Reid Bulatovic, electric bass
- Hulda Hjálmarsdóttir, synthesizer programming
- Mateusz Gwizdalla, conductor
Additional information: Leevi Räsänen, leevi.rasanen@uniarts.fi
NYKY Ensemble
NYKY Ensemble is a contemporary music group of Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy, which serves as a forum for contemporary music projects and provides perspectives on the trends and techniques of our time, such as expanded playing techniques, live electronics, microtonality, minimalism or cross-disciplinary artistic cooperation. The composition of the ensemble depends on the pieces to be presented at any given time, and the visiting supervisor in each concert period is a musician or ensemble specialising in contemporary music.
Mannerheimintie renovation project
Access to the Musiikkitalo from the direction of Mannerheimintie will be difficult. We recommend that you allow enough time for your arrival and use the entrance on the side of Kansalaistori if possible. According to current information, the entrance to Mannerheimintie will also remain in use throughout the renovation, but pedestrian routes can be challenging at times.
In a concert curated by Juhani Nuorvala and Matthew Whittal, the NYKY Ensemble of the Sibelius Academy takes on significant and rarely-performed postminimalist works. The solo piano works of William Duckworth and Kyle Gann bring variety to the performance as well as serving as illustrative classics of the postminimalist style.
The postminimalist style was born in the late 20th century as a continuation of the minimalist movement that pushed the boundaries of minimalist aesthetics towards greater diversity. Postminimalist composers used richer and more complex harmonics and musical elements. Many of the composers were also influenced by other music styles, such as jazz, rock and music from various regions of the world.
Programme
- Philip Glass: Head-On (1967)
- for piano trio
- Mikel Rouse: Quick Thrust (1985)
- for soprano saxophone, drums, keyboard and electric bass
- William Duckworth: The Time Curve Preludes (1979) for solo piano
- No. 7
- No. 9
- No. 11
- William Duckworth: Blue Rhythm
- for piano trio
- Meredith Monk: Stringsongs (2005)
- for string quartet
– intermission –
- Kyle Gann: Nocturne No. 6 – Spectral Dance (2023)
- for solo piano
- Jocelyn Morlock: Stone’s Throw (2018)
- for pierrot ensemble and marimba
- Kyle Gann: Private Dances (2000/4) for solo piano
- No. 2 Sad
- No. 4 Sultry
- No. 5 Saintly
- Michael Torke: October (2017)
- for bass clarinet and string quartet
- Michael Gordon: Yo Shakespeare! (1992)
- for ensemble
Performers
- Atte Kilpeläinen, music coaching
- Juhani Nuorvala and Matthew Whittall, programme curation
NYKY Ensemble
- Tuule-Helin Krigul, flute and pan flute
- Jānis Vītols, flute and pan flute
- Gracia Ortega Navarro, clarinets
- Juho Palonen, saxophones
- Ilta Attila, saxophones
- Jussi Littunen, piano and keyboard
- Kiia Nordlund, piano and keyboard
- Tsotne Sidamonidze, piano and keyboard
- Wilhelm Pilch, piano
- Iivari Aalto, piano
- Kiia-Maria Piispa, accordion
- Pietari Huhtinen, percussion
- Ana Rita da Silva Santos, violin
- Alexis Mauritz, violin
- Lena Marie-puig, violin
- Katrīna Pelnēna, viola
- Ärla Hillerud, cello
- Bruno Lima, cello
- Nico Vicente Antolin, cello
- Kukka Lukkarinen, electric guitar
- Mark Reid Bulatovic, electric bass
- Hulda Hjálmarsdóttir, synthesizer programming
- Mateusz Gwizdalla, conductor
Additional information: Leevi Räsänen, leevi.rasanen@uniarts.fi
NYKY Ensemble
NYKY Ensemble is a contemporary music group of Uniarts Helsinki’s Sibelius Academy, which serves as a forum for contemporary music projects and provides perspectives on the trends and techniques of our time, such as expanded playing techniques, live electronics, microtonality, minimalism or cross-disciplinary artistic cooperation. The composition of the ensemble depends on the pieces to be presented at any given time, and the visiting supervisor in each concert period is a musician or ensemble specialising in contemporary music.
Mannerheimintie renovation project
Access to the Musiikkitalo from the direction of Mannerheimintie will be difficult. We recommend that you allow enough time for your arrival and use the entrance on the side of Kansalaistori if possible. According to current information, the entrance to Mannerheimintie will also remain in use throughout the renovation, but pedestrian routes can be challenging at times.