Winterslag is a project developed in the former Genk mine of the same name. Initially intended as an album, the various pieces in the project are inspired by the acoustics of the site, mining songs from various countries and the different states of coal (from coal to anthracite). The violin is mostly used as a ‘concrete music’ element, yet with very few means : using small objects such as paper clips, mutes, fishing rod, aluminium foil, or by controlling the bow placement, angle and velocity. Musical elements such as pitches, tonality/modes and rhythm patterns, are extracted from mining songs from Belgium, England, U.S.A and Morocco. This writing process is inspired by coal extraction : after being brought to the surface, coal is sorted, washed and processed – the sterile elements are sent to the terril (a mountain formed with the waste material from coal mining) and become new landscape elements.
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Clara Lévy is a French violinist and improviser who has devoted her career to musical creation. She regularly collaborates with European ensembles such as ONCEIM, HanatsuMiroir, Ictus, Contemporary Insights, Ensemble Nemo, Ensemble 21 and composers such as Erika Vega, Eva-Maria Houben, Clara de Asis, Jurg Frey, Karl Naegelen, Kaija Saariaho, Szymon Brzoska, Klaus Lang…