17 September 2005 ~ 8pm FREE CONCERT of Mikres Ikones at Trinity Uniting Church,
15 Black Street, Brighton, Victoria.
Jouissance was formed in 1993 to explore a dialogue between Medieval and Byzantine chant, and contemporary culture.
The musicians share a fascination with the mysticism, sensuality and rapture found in the works of Hildegard of Bingen, Peter Abelard and the Byzantine Rite. The engagement with this music is informed by the diverse nature of the performers' experience: from New Complexity to Minimalism, from Japanese Zen to Jazz-Rock crossover, from Blues and Ethnic music to all forms of Opera. Improvisation is one of the elements used to site the exploration in an 'unstable' environment, encouraging new insights and glimpses of other possible readings of the ancient work in a contemporary framework.
In 1999 Jouissance toured to Europe for their first overseas concert tour, receiving outstanding reviews and standing ovations. They performed at the Festival of St Olav in the Nidrasdomen (Cathedral) in Trondheim, in the Tallin Concert Hall in Estonia, and the Parnu Town Hall in Estonia.
In 2002 Jouissance performed in St Patrick's Cathedral (Melbourne), Pilgrim Church (Adelaide Festival) and St Andrew's Cathedral (Sydney) with sponsorship from Australia Council, Adelaide Festival and the City of Melbourne.
In 2003 Jouissance took a new look at the Byzantine Rite in a series of 3 concerts sponsored by the city of Melbourne. Hagiographia on 24th June, Mikres Ikones on 26th August, and Akathistos on 16th October. These concerts also included works based on the music and texts of Hildegard of Bingen.
In 2004 Jouissance were joined by the gorgeous voice of Baritone/Bass - Jerzy Kozlowski in Performances in Ballarat and Melbourne. Download Concert info for Friday May 14th Trinity Chapel performance, sponsored by Melbourne City Council.
Reviews:
"Near Divine. Jouissance is an ensemble which embodies a feeling... of primal ecstasy." Sydney Morning Herald, 14/3/02
"...the extraordinary impact of their enterprising fusion of old and new, East and West, Latin and Byzantine... [Their] near hysteric outpourings... to the serene ... combined discipline and freedom... a barrier-breaking treat." The Age, Melbourne 11/3/02
"...an enthralling experience, meditative, impassioned, sensual and uplifting, with moments of striking beauty." The Advertiser , Adelaide 11/3/2002
'........the night's instrumental beauties came in the unpredictable passages: the breathy elliptical Japanese flute work of Norman, Tsiavos' wide-ranging bass support, and the assortment of gongs, metal sheets and cymbals that Neville applied to the texture: subtle ornamentation of the ensemble's solid and daring structure.' Clive O'Connell The Age June 2003
"The Australians charm with their originality. ...the music disappears between the two worlds of reality and unreality. The musicians were able to perfectly convey the archaic ether, their ectasy became a part of the audience." - Toomas Kuter, Parnu Postimees, Estonia 13/8/99. Translated by Taavi Piibemann.
"...[Jouissance] has realised a soundworld that is much more than an accompaniment to the lyrics of Hildegard and Abelard, it is a highly imaginative evocation of the very aura of rapture to which these lyrics so often aspire." - Soundscapes, Australia May 1994
"...wrenchingly ecstatic... Jouissance displays elegance, linear firmness and a deep spirituality in its performances. ...one of this year's concert going delights. Jouissance cannot be commended highly enough". - Clive O'Connell, The Age, Melbourne August 1997.
"The best of the locals [for the 1997 season] ... was Jouissance. [My] longing for adventurousness was gratified ...these musicians produced an experimental fusion that gave its audience a rich aesthetic experience." - Review of 1997 music season in Melbourne, The Age, December 1997.
What the audience have said:
"...the most beautiful sound that I have encountered in this life thus far is the music of Jouissance! At the time, that was the C.D. Hildegard's Dead. I have now revised that thought after hearing you all live. It was magnificent." Steve Pitman who drove 4 hours to get to a Jouissance gig in Melbourne.
"Only the second time I have wept at a concert in my life" Jan Lancaster - visual artist
"I would like to say how much I enjoyed your Akathistos Fragments. I have a CD of Byzantine music which I find heavy going. Your music that mixed the Byzantine so creatively with modern intruments was just wonderful. I won't detail each performer's attributes, each one seemed to eclipse the last..." Roz Rogers
"My wife dragged me here against my will. I wanted to watch the football tonight. But after five minutes of listening to Jouissance, I was spell bound and completely forgot the football until I came out the other end 90 mesmeric minutes later. So glad I came. Thank you." - Anon male.
"The most beautiful music I have ever heard." Neil McLaughlin - instrument designer, composer, director of Australia Bell
"Jouissance are cool!" - anon.
Recordings:
Jouissance has recorded several CDs and one DVD of their Mikres Ikones program recorded live in concert in 2003. All past CDs are out of print, but the DVD is available on request (AUD$30).
The group has recently recorded a new CD entitled Akathistos Fragments. This is currently being mastered by the ABC. You may indicate your interest in ordering one of these CDs by emailing Nick Tsiavos <nictsiavos@bigpond.com.au>