Spark (band)

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Spark
current logo of Spark, designed for the Folk Tunes album, but now generally used

current logo of Spark, designed for the Folk Tunes album, but now generally used
Spark in Goslar, 2017 from left to right: Victor Plumettaz, Daniel Koschitzki, Arseni Sadykov, Andrea Ritter, Stefan Balazsovics
Spark in Goslar, 2017
v. ltr Victor Plumettaz, Daniel Koschitzki, Arseni Sadykov, Andrea Ritter, Stefan Balazsovics
General information
Genre (s) Minimal music , new music , classical music
founding 2007
Website www.spark-die-klassische-band.de
Founding members
Andrea Ritter
Recorder, melodica
Daniel Koschitzki
Current occupation
recorder
 Andrea Ritter
Recorder, melodica
 Daniel Koschitzki
Stefan Balazsovics (from 2017)
Victor Plumettaz (from 2007)
Christian Fritz (from 2018)
former members
piano
 René Randrianarisoa (2007-2009)
piano
 Jutta Rieping (2009-2011)
piano
 Mischa Cheung (2011-2015)
Violin, viola
 Stefan Glaus (2008-2015)
piano
 Arseni Sadykov (2016-2018)
original Spark logo, used e.g. B. on the cover of the debut album Downtown Illusions

Spark is a chamber music ensemble that presents new music and classical works in their own reinterpretation. One of the band's goals is to make classical music accessible, especially to young people or concertgoers with little classical listening experience. With the slogan Spark - the classical band (including the band's internet domain), Spark defines the group’s endeavors to harmonize classical music with the listening experience of young people by combining “the subtlety and precision of a classical chamber music ensemble with the Energy and the bite of a rock band ”.

history

The ensemble was founded in 2007 by recorder players Andrea Ritter and Daniel Koschitzki . Both had known each other since studying recorder together in Karlsruhe and had played together in the Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet for several years . In 2006 they founded the baroque ensemble Koschitzki & Ritter .

Cellist Victor Plumettaz, whom Andrea Ritter and Daniel Koschitzki also knew from the Karlsruhe University of Music, has also been there since 2007. In 2008 Stefan Glaus joined them, who played the violin and viola. He left in 2015 and was replaced by Stefan Balazsovics in 2017. The pianist has already changed several times, and Christian Fritz has been sitting at the piano for Spark since 2018 . Spark's musicians are classically trained, but also incorporate influences from minimal music, film music and popular music into their music.

In 2010 Spark recorded the first album Downtown Illusions on the label ARS Produktion , back then with Jutta Rieping on the piano. In 2012 the second album Folk Tunes was released by Deutsche Grammophon / Universal . In this album, the band makes more use of traditional melodies from European folk music . The third album Wild Territories was released in 2015, followed in 2017 by the fourth album Facets of Infinity together with the Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra . The fifth album On the dancefloor followed in 2018 on the Berlinclassics label .

occupation

The core of the ensemble are the two flautists Andrea Ritter and Daniel Koschitzki, who also founded the band. During their appearances with Spark they play up to 30 different flutes , especially recorders from the sub-bass recorder to the sopranino recorder, including historical instruments such as B. the g alto ganassi flute from the Renaissance period . Daniel Koschitzki also plays the melodica . The flutes are complemented by the instruments of a classical piano trio : piano (mostly concert grand ), cello and violin or viola .

repertoire

The bulk of Spark's repertoire consists of contemporary works, either composed for Spark or arranged by Spark. Spark works closely with contemporary composers from Europe and the USA, such as Chiel Meijering , Johannes Motschmann , Kenji Bunch and Lev “Ljova” Zhurbin . In addition, Spark also arranges older works for its own line-up in order to refer to the roots of today's music. The cellist Victor Plumettaz also composed the piece Scotch-Club especially for Spark.

activities

Spark is involved in the Rhapsody in School initiative and regularly gives concerts in schools.

Discography

  • 2010: Downtown Illusions (ARS production)
  • 2012: Folk Tunes (Deutsche Grammophon / Universal) with guest star Kitty Hoff
  • 2012: New Directions In Classical Music (sampler by Deutsche Grammophon / Universal with 2 pieces by Spark)
  • 2012: A classic in itself - the best albums of 2012 (sampler from Deutsche Grammophon / Universa / Decca, annual review with 1 track from Folk Tunes)
  • 2015: Wild Territories (Berlin Classics)
  • 2017: Facets of Infinity (Neue Meister / Edel) with the Frankfurt Opera and Museum Orchestra
  • 2018: On the Dancefloor (Berlin Classics / Edel)
  • 2020: Be Baroque (Berlin Classics)

Awards

For their debut album Downtown Illusions , the band received the ECHO Klassik in 2011 in the category "Classics without borders". The reason stated: “Spark impress with a unique mixture of joy in playing and technical brilliance. In doing so, they overcome all stylistic boundaries with musical fire. "

literature

Books
  • Daniel Koschitzki and Andrea Ritter in conversation with Martin Tröndle : We Do It Our Way . Spark, the classic band. In: Petra Schneidewind, Martin Tröndle (Ed.): Self-management in the music business . A handbook for cultural professionals. 2nd, completely revised edition. transcript, Bielefeld 2012, ISBN 978-3-8376-1660-6 , chap. 4.4, p. 289 ff .
Trade journals
  • Georg Waßmuth: The journey has just begun . Spark - the classic band. In: clarino.print . international brass music. No. 6 . DVO Druck und Verlag Obermayer GmbH, June 2011, ISSN  1610-7853 , p. 46-48 .
  • Hans-Dieter Grünefeld: The classic band Spark . Extravagant. In: Ensemble - magazine for chamber music . No. 1 (February / March). Staccato-Verlag, 2010, ISSN  1612-0833 , p. 40-43 .
  • Hans-Dieter Grünefeld: Spark . Chamber music against classical concert rituals. In: Music & Theater . No. 7/8 (July / August). Südostschweiz Presse und Print AG, 2011, ISSN  0931-8194 , p. 21 .

Web links

Commons : Spark  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Bio. (No longer available online.) In: Spark's website. Archived from the original on March 2, 2013 ; Retrieved November 30, 2012 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.spark-die-klassische-band.de
  2. ↑ Spark at ZDF Mittagsmagazin , interview with Andrea Ritter and Daniel Koschitzki on Youtube
  3. ↑ ARTIST LIST - alphabetically. In: Rhapsody in School website. Retrieved November 30, 2012 .
  4. ↑ Spark - Downtown Illusions. In: ARS production website. Retrieved November 30, 2012 (with presentation of the album and press reviews).
  5. ^ Folk Tunes. In: Universal Music Group website. Retrieved December 20, 2012 .
  6. ↑ New Directions In Classical Music. In: musik-sammler.de. Retrieved January 15, 2013 .
  7. ^ A classic for itself 2012. In: Website of the Universal Music Group. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013 ; Retrieved January 15, 2013 .
  8. ↑ a b discography. In: Spark website. Retrieved June 13, 2019 .
  9. ↑ discography. In: Spark website. Retrieved October 13, 2017 .
  10. ↑ ECHO-Klassik 2011 for Spark, the classic band: Classics without borders. (No longer available online.) In: Website of OPHELIAS Culture PR. Formerly in the original ; Retrieved November 30, 2012 .  ( Page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Dead Link / www.ophelias-pr.com   Former students of the Karlsruhe University of Music awarded. Spark wins the ECHO Klassik 2011. In: University News from the University of Music Karlsruhe. Retrieved December 13, 2012 .
  11. ↑ Spark at ECHO Klassik 2011 , excerpt on Youtube