It's only been May of this year since A Different Nature featured Norwegian composer/musician MAJA SK RATKJE. Since then, she's released several more albums, so this program will feature all material released in 2016 and will show examples of her as both a composer and an improviser. We'll hear something from each of these albums, which are:
AND SING.. New classical music composed by Ratkje, and performed by her with Cikada Ensemble and the Oslo Sinfonietta.
CREPUSCULAR HOUR - A peice composed by Ratkje for three choirs, three pairs of noise musicians, and concert organ. Performed by The 24, RNCM Chamber Choir, University of Huddersfield Chamber Choir, Stian Westerhus, Hild Sofie Tafjord, Phil Julian, Mark Durgan, Antoine Chessex, Lasse Marhaug and Nils Henrik Asheim.
KAPITAL & MORAL - RATKJE with the contemporary music trio POING, perform songs from the past century that address the impact of Capitalism on ordinary people.
RASAKA - RASAKA is RATKJE with the free jazz trio SAKA. This album is an improvised performance from 2013.
STILL EATING GINGER BREAD FOR BREAKFAST - A new album from SPUNK, this is a recording of their 20th anniversary concert in 2015. Spunk is Lene Grenager on cello, Hild Sofie Tafjord on French horn, Kristin Andersen on trumpet and recorder, and Ratkje on voice and Theramin.
“Ratkje brings a feral disregard for conventional form, combined with an extravagant imagination, linking it all to a fascination with the human voice and its communicative possibilities. Her works are dramatic, engaging and wildly diverse.” Financial Times 2015
A remarkable and unique voice, who to an unprecedented level has united audiences and critics alike from all genres of experimental music – contemporary classical, improvisation, electronic and noise!
-Graham McKenzie, Artistic Director, Huddersfield Conteporary Music Festival
"Last time I heard SPUNK was phenomenal! They are among the most exciting improvising groups in the world right now". Fred Frith
- KBOO