Trecolor |Sealf | Duo Maija Anttila & Jonathan Nagel

To ring in the 'Dag van de Componist' (june 11-21) Thomas Myrmel has invited three remarkable ensembles to bring their compositions to the stage in Splendor. The sonic diversity which these ensembles explore propounds to be an earful. In the form of a mini-festival with ensembles Trecolor, Sealf and the duo Maija Anttila & Jonathan Nagel will take the audience on an epic journey of soundscapes, with through-composed and experimental works which display virtuosic execution and nuanced sound tapestry – a true journey for the ears, setting the tone for the next ten days of 'Dag van de componist'!

About the ensembles
Trio Trecolor, a chamber music ensemble formed by clarinetist Maija Anttila, pianist Marjukka Eskelinen and violinist Lotta Peltomäki, has been operating since 2017. They have performed e.g. in concerts organized by Jokilaakso Chamber Music Association and Kuopio Chamber Music Society in Haapajärvi, Haapavesi, Pyhäjärvi and Kuopio.

Trio Trecolor is interested in expanding traditional ways of playing their instruments, exploring different performance concepts, and producing more playable music for their instrumentation through composition commissions. So far, they have premiered two pieces that they have commissioned for their ensemble: ‘Juoksen perässäsi elämä’ (2020) from Sanna Ahvenjärvi, and ‘Cassi’ (2023) from Wilma Pistorius. These commissions were supported by Madetoja Foundation and Arts Promotion Centre Finland.

Sealf **is a duet by electronic wizard Thomas Myrmel and bassist and soundsmith Jonathan Nagel. Together they explore the farthest reaches of song form, deftly weaving melodies with sound walls and trilling frequencies, drawing the listener into a sonic meditation sculpted with Myrmel's evocative lyrics. As musicians and instrumentalists, their work is driven by innovative practices in electroacoustic music production, including live electronics, gestures driven manipulation, real-time visuals and multi-channel sound systems. The compositional pursuit is to intertwine familiar elements such as diatonic harmonic progressions and song structures with novel experimental techniques in spectral, granular, & temporal manipulation.

Sealf’s music reflects a world in crisis—melting ice caps, endangered species, and feelings of alienation echo through pounding soundscapes and distorted screams. But their work is more than a lament; it’s a cry for help, a search for hope, and an attempt to heal both inner and outer wounds. Their name plays on the words 'salve' (ointment), symbolizing healing, as well as 'self' and 'seal', emphasizing the need for closure and renewal in a fractured world.

The duet of Maija Anttila and Jonathan Nagel bridges the space between minimalist soundscapes and overwhelming walls of sound. Their instruments, the bass clarinet and contrabass, call for low roaring, but they are also able to produce a wide range of percussive sounds. Through live processing with various effects, dense sonic textures are created which draw the listener into an abstract and fascinating world.
In its slow pace, the music seems stagnant at times, yet it is constantly evolving. Without rush, without pretense, it explores the dark, melancholic and gloomy environment that it pictures. Like a walk through abandoned nightly city roads, it is as much exploration as it is enjoyment of bathing in a certain mood.
Rough and edgy, rumbling and raving, but always upright and straightforward are the voices of the two musicians, and their work takes the listener on a journey into the unknown.

Maija Anttila (bassclarinet)
Marjukka Eskelinen (piano)
Lotta Peltomäki (violin)
Thomas Myrmel (voice, trombone, electronica)
Jonathan Nagel **(contrabass, electronica)