The DigiEnsemble Berlin exclusively uses digital devices to perform the aria “Großer Herr, o starker König” from the famous and glorious Christmas Oratorio by Johann Sebastian Bach.

For two year now, the DigiEnsemble Berlin has explored the opportunities of mobile music. This aria, however, is a very important step in the course of the musician’s quest, due to the high qualitative aspiration and requirements of the piece. The DigiEnsemble Berlin physically premiers the piece together with the singer Roman Trekel at the Berlin Cathedral on the 16th December 2012.

The realization of the musically challenging aria is a culmination for the quest of acquiring virtuous playing techniques with smartphones. Matthias Krebs chose this aria consciously with the intention of accomplishing a signifying step in the ensemble’s development. Experts like music professors from the Berlin University of the Arts were consulted to optimize the musical adaption and musical interpretation.

Furthermore, the technical level was enhanced by utilizing a number of elaborate controllers. An important sound quality improvement for this musical interpretation was enabled by a new motion control app called “MIDI In Motion” by Florian Schwehn.

In the process of the project, the digital devices became serious musical instruments on a high level of proficiency and differentiation that has not been reached before.

The realization of this video came about in cooperation with the Deutsche Telekom which backed the video and studio recordings in summer 2012 involving Markenfilm and the Emil Berliner Studios. The DigiEnsemble Berlin is very grateful for this cooperation.

Furthermore, the DigiEnsemble Berlin had the chance to use the video material for its own version. Matthias Krebs was in charge of the production, appreciably supported by the cutter Liesa Rademacher from feinfilm. They aimed at giving a close view to reinforce the musical impression.

The entire sound is created on the digital devices themself. Therefore, three apps run simultaneously. These are ThumbJam as a sampler for all instruments, Geo Synth as the instrumental surface and “MIDI In Motion” as a motion controller of volume (Schwehn has provides us with a beta version), connected via virtual midi.

video credits

DigiEnsemble Berlin

Tobias Berndt – bariton

Tammin Julian Lee – conductor

Matthias Krebs – solo trumpet

Miriam Akkermann – flute

Tim Neuser – violin 1

Dustin Dick – violin 2

Sven Ratzel – viola

Uwe Schamburek – bassoon/cello

Timon Kossack – bass bowed

Daniel Grote – organ

THX to: Prof. Dr. Richenhagen and Prof. Dr. Supper

THX to: Florian Schwehn

music production

Daniel Kemper (Emil Berliner Studios)

camera

Kai Klinke, Neels Feil (Markenfilm Crossing)

video production

Matthias Krebs (vision, management, punos)

Liesa Rademacher (cutter, feinfilm)

Mathias Geck (color grading)

Lukasz Fabijanczyk (logo animation, cutter)

Bastian Schick (logo sounds)

Susanne Hassepaß (ass., feinfilm)

Nastasia Mohren (ass., punos)

Many THX to Gesa Meynen and GRIMM GALLUN HOLTAPPELS.

The film was shot on 20th September 2012 at the old theatre stage of the Heimathafen Neukölln in Berlin. The video was release on the 17th December 2012.

DigiEnsemble Berlin Release 2012

CC BY NC SA

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