Flamma Flamma
Encyclopedia
Flamma Flamma - The Fire Requiem is a musical work by Nicholas Lens
. It is the first part of the operatic trilogy The Accacha Chronicles
. The work was artistically and financially produced by the composer himself and gained international fame when Sony Classical bought the rights in 1994 for worldwide distribution.
In 14 sections, the somber score combines orchestra, chorus and six operatic voices that contrast with the eerie tonalities of three female nasal-natural singers .
With its visceral strength and sustained emotional drive, Flamma Flamma has won a loyal worldwide audience and international critical favor.
The score has been used a numerous times for art-firework-performances and hundreds of dance
and ballet
creations all over the world. Lens, who considers himself (in interviews) more a fan of severe contemporary dance
and moving theatre (Lens is Belgian born and has been influenced by the contemporary Flemish
-Belgian dance scene), was not always happy with these adaptations. More than ten years after the original creation Nicholas Lens
rewrote the score completely. This new, operatic and more extended and purely acoustic version, which seems far more complex in rhythm and tonality (read: a-tonality), -published in 2005 by Schott Music
International (Mainz
/New York) as first part of 'The Accacha Chronicles
'- did not premiere yet.
In 1995 Sony
Classical USA released an American cover version of the work. Sony Classical USA considered that the European cover, based on the labyrinth
of Chartres
(France), (originally a huge painting by the Japanese/Belgian artist Peter Bal) was too intellectual and arty for the American market. The American cover with the doubled androgynous angel face was designed by the New York artist Amy Guip. The change of cover was criticised in the American press.
Nicholas Lens
Nicholas Lens is a contemporary Belgian author and composer.Lens was born in Ypres near the French border in Flanders, Belgium. His godfather taught him violin when he was five. He studied trumpet and double-bass, first at local academies and then at Royal conservatories. Later on he studied viola...
. It is the first part of the operatic trilogy The Accacha Chronicles
The Accacha Chronicles
The Accacha Chronicles is an operatic trilogy by Nicholas Lens for Soprano, Tenor, Counter-tenor, Mezzo-soprano, Baritone, Bass, male actor, small choir, mixed choir and chamber orchestra.-Reception:...
. The work was artistically and financially produced by the composer himself and gained international fame when Sony Classical bought the rights in 1994 for worldwide distribution.
In 14 sections, the somber score combines orchestra, chorus and six operatic voices that contrast with the eerie tonalities of three female nasal-natural singers .
With its visceral strength and sustained emotional drive, Flamma Flamma has won a loyal worldwide audience and international critical favor.
Time magazine quote
According to Time magazine, Flamma Flamma is among those compositions of contemporary classic music "breaking down the established divisions between popular and so-called serious music" as "[w]ith its visceral strength and sustained emotional drive, Flamma Flamma has won a loyal audience and critical favor."Live performances and adaptations
- The American actor Frank Sheppard (picture) performed the part of the Gédé at the first creation of Flamma Flamma in a spooky abbeyAbbeyAn abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
in MechelenMechelenMechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
, BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
in 1993. - In 1998 Flamma Flamma was created with 2,000 participants for an audience of 30,000 people in AdelaideAdelaideAdelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, AustraliaAustraliaAustralia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
at the opening night of the Adelaide Festival of ArtsAdelaide Festival of ArtsThe Adelaide Festival of Arts is an arts festival held biennially in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. Although locally considered to be one of the world's greatest celebrations of the arts, that is internationally renowned and the pre-eminent cultural event in Australia, it is actually...
at Elder ParkElder Park, AdelaideElder Park is a public open space in the city of Adelaide, South Australia on the southern bank of the River Torrens and that is bordered by the Adelaide Festival Centre and North Terrace....
(Festival intendantIntendantThe title of intendant has been used in several countries through history. Traditionally, it refers to the holder of a public administrative office...
: Robin Archer). - fLamma fLamma (1995) is the title of a short film based on the titletrack of Flamma Flamma by N. Lens, directed by Jan Bultheel, produced by Pix & Motion. The film was shown on MTV and Arte. It was the first time Sony Classical had a music track of one of his artists playing on the popular MTV-channel. Today, the video for "Flamma Flamma" still gets sporadic airplay on MTV European's late night eclectic show "Chill Out Zone".
The score has been used a numerous times for art-firework-performances and hundreds of dance
Dance
Dance is an art form that generally refers to movement of the body, usually rhythmic and to music, used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting....
and ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
creations all over the world. Lens, who considers himself (in interviews) more a fan of severe contemporary dance
Contemporary dance
Contemporary dance is a genre of concert dance that employs compositional philosophy, rather than choreography, to guide unchoreographed movement...
and moving theatre (Lens is Belgian born and has been influenced by the contemporary Flemish
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
-Belgian dance scene), was not always happy with these adaptations. More than ten years after the original creation Nicholas Lens
Nicholas Lens
Nicholas Lens is a contemporary Belgian author and composer.Lens was born in Ypres near the French border in Flanders, Belgium. His godfather taught him violin when he was five. He studied trumpet and double-bass, first at local academies and then at Royal conservatories. Later on he studied viola...
rewrote the score completely. This new, operatic and more extended and purely acoustic version, which seems far more complex in rhythm and tonality (read: a-tonality), -published in 2005 by Schott Music
Schott Music
Schott Music is one of the oldest German music publishers. It is also one of the largest music publishing houses in Europe and is currently the second oldest music publishing house. The company headquarters of Schott Music was founded by Bernhard Schott in Mainz, Germany in 1770.Established in...
International (Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
/New York) as first part of 'The Accacha Chronicles
The Accacha Chronicles
The Accacha Chronicles is an operatic trilogy by Nicholas Lens for Soprano, Tenor, Counter-tenor, Mezzo-soprano, Baritone, Bass, male actor, small choir, mixed choir and chamber orchestra.-Reception:...
'- did not premiere yet.
In 1995 Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
Classical USA released an American cover version of the work. Sony Classical USA considered that the European cover, based on the labyrinth
Labyrinth
In Greek mythology, the Labyrinth was an elaborate structure designed and built by the legendary artificer Daedalus for King Minos of Crete at Knossos...
of Chartres
Chartres
Chartres is a commune and capital of the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France. It is located southwest of Paris.-Geography:Chartres is built on the left bank of the Eure River, on a hill crowned by its famous cathedral, the spires of which are a landmark in the surrounding country...
(France), (originally a huge painting by the Japanese/Belgian artist Peter Bal) was too intellectual and arty for the American market. The American cover with the doubled androgynous angel face was designed by the New York artist Amy Guip. The change of cover was criticised in the American press.
Track listing
- Hic Iacet I (5:41)
- Hic Iacet II (9:07)
- Sumus Vicinae (4:57)
- Tegite Specula (6:06)
- Complorate Filiae (4:13)
- Vale Frater (4:12)
- Amice Mi (4:39)
- Corpus Inimici (5:25)
- Deliciae Meae (4:54)
- Flamma Flamma (3:17)
- Ave Ignis (4:42)
- In Corpore (4:58)
- Agnus Purus (5:55)
- Ardeat Ignis (7:18)
Credits
- First part of the operatic trilogyTrilogyA trilogy is a set of three works of art that are connected, and that can be seen either as a single work or as three individual works. They are commonly found in literature, film, or video games...
by Nicholas LensNicholas LensNicholas Lens is a contemporary Belgian author and composer.Lens was born in Ypres near the French border in Flanders, Belgium. His godfather taught him violin when he was five. He studied trumpet and double-bass, first at local academies and then at Royal conservatories. Later on he studied viola...
The Accacha ChroniclesThe Accacha ChroniclesThe Accacha Chronicles is an operatic trilogy by Nicholas Lens for Soprano, Tenor, Counter-tenor, Mezzo-soprano, Baritone, Bass, male actor, small choir, mixed choir and chamber orchestra.-Reception:... - Music & Concept: Nicholas LensNicholas LensNicholas Lens is a contemporary Belgian author and composer.Lens was born in Ypres near the French border in Flanders, Belgium. His godfather taught him violin when he was five. He studied trumpet and double-bass, first at local academies and then at Royal conservatories. Later on he studied viola...
- Libretto: Herman Portocarero
- Published by Schott MusicSchott MusicSchott Music is one of the oldest German music publishers. It is also one of the largest music publishing houses in Europe and is currently the second oldest music publishing house. The company headquarters of Schott Music was founded by Bernhard Schott in Mainz, Germany in 1770.Established in...
International MainzMainzMainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
/ New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... - Released by Sony BMG International 74321 697172
- Original release by SonySony, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
Classical SK 66293
External links
- Nicholas Lens' Website
- Time Magazine http://www.time.com/time/international/1995/951009/sightings.html
- Schott Music International http://www.schott-music.com/autoren/KomponistenAZ/show,3527.html
- Internet Movie Data Base http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0502203/
- WBFF http://www.wbff.org/films/detail.asp?fid=607
- Sony BMG http://sonybmg.de/artists2.php?artist=187779
- Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nicholas-Lens/53923195756