fanfares for a new beginning

After a phase of cultural standstill, enforced silence and the abandonment of concerts, a new project by the Gürzenich Orchestra and its principal conductor François-Xavier Roth set an audible sign of joy and hope in the urban space: Fanfares for a new Beginning, sponsored by the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, not only celebrated the resumption of concert life after the lockdown. Rather, the aim was to explicitly encourage composers to respond to the changes brought about by the Corona crisis with short new works. Until the end of the 2020/21 season, a specially commissioned fanfare was played before each symphony concert.

Ayanna Witter-Johnson's »Fanfare for the Brave« for brass ensemble and percussion was heard at the opening concert of the 20/21 season: »I am honoured to compose the first of these fanfares. They are an important sign that new music is present even in Corona times and must not disappear«, says Witter-Johnson.

More fanfares by composers such as Georg Friedrich Haas, Olga Neuwirth, Enno Poppe, Philipp Maintz, York Höller, Vito Zuraj, Frank Pesci, Bernhard Gander and Philippe Manoury followed during the season. In addition, fanfares composed or arranged by musicians of the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne were also heard.

»Many works in our repertoire are currently unplayable under the given conditions. We are therefore delighted to be able, with the support of the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, to send an audible signal of hope and new beginnings throughout the season in these difficult times«, says Stefan Englert, Managing Director of the Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne.

The Gürzenich Orchestra would like to thank the Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation for supporting this project.