Commission to Zygmunt Krauze

A new composition by Zygmunt Krauze is being created as part of a concert tour with joint performances by the two ensembles E-MEX and Spółdzielnia Muzyczna. The work for baritone, cello, viola, violin, flute, clarinet, saxophone, piano and percussion has the working title: Listen and Think. ‘The music is subordinate to the text. The piece will include excerpts from press reports on wars and armed conflicts in the 21st century, as well as quotations from great thinkers such as Seneca, Voltaire, Pascal and Nietzsche. The confrontation between these two worlds is expressed through emotions such as anger, pain, astonishment and fear. These emotions are conveyed through hunger, screams, effects of new singing techniques and theatrical elements. The piece consists of a single movement and lasts about 15 minutes,’ says the composer about his work.

E-MEX has built up many connections with Poland over the past few years. A commission awarded by the ensemble to the young Polish composer Monika Szpyrka in 2022 will also be performed as part of this project. Collaboration with neighbouring Poland, whose history, culture and rich musical landscape still seems to be too little known in this country, even in the field of new music, is an important concern for E-MEX. E-MEX and Spółdzielnia Muzyczna, which was awarded the 2022 Ensemble Prize of the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, have been in contact for quite some time, visiting each other and exchanging ideas and activities. The desire for collaboration arose on both sides. Such a partnership is ideal because the ensembles work well together in terms of size, number of participants and artistic interests.

Further information:
e-mex.de

Dates

October 4, 2025
Chamber Music Hall of Deutschlandfunk, Cologne

October 5, 2025
Philara Collection, Düsseldorf

October 11, 2025
CRICOTEKA Museum, Krakow