WHEN NATURE REVEALS ITSELF THROUGH MUSIC

For Janequin, Rameau, Haydn, Debussy and Messiaen, nature was an endless source of inspiration, from direct imitation (“croaaak, croak, croaaaaak!”) to entire sonic landscapes filled with animal calls, gusts of wind and the roar of the sea.

This concert is the culmination of an ambitious educational project bringing together the Royal Conservatory of Brussels and Norwegian composer Kristine Tjøgersen, whose research and artistic practice both explore the connections between nature and music. Together, the students take over the iconic museum of the Institute of Natural Sciences with a concert that unfolds throughout its galleries and spaces.

Step into the forests that animals make their homes (Habitat), or tap into the more-than-human energy of the universe (We Carry the Sun). Works by Tjøgersen are performed alongside a new creation by Mathis Ranchon and pieces from the classical repertoire, each paired with a short text inviting us to reflect on our relationship with nature and, ultimately, with ourselves.

Six stations to discover in any order you like. Six ways to reconnect with the living world, through sound and thought.

This event is dedicated to the memory of Isabelle Van Loo from the Institute of Natural Sciences, who passed away unexpectedly this summer. The Ars Musica team had the pleasure of developing this project together with her. Isabelle was a warm and humorous person, a passionate conversation partner, with an equally boundless curiosity for science and culture.