Artist description "The Swiss Percussion Group have got the right magic formula: sparkling ideas mixed with virtuoso skills, breathing an exciting openness." Matthias Ziegler, member of the avant-garde of flute A short glance at the titles of the various concert-reports shows just how inspiring the performances of the Swiss Percussion Group (SPG) are: In the beginning was the stone and thereafter the SPG started percussion acrobatics in its meditation of the other kind. And that´s not all: the so provoked chamber music on pumpkins became a touchable experience not the least thanks to the magic with the vast instruments. No wonder, that what the critics experienced was a fascinating world of sounds, a demanding variety, a real sound-spectacle. In short, a surprising world was to be experienced and - since living memory existing - the question had to be asked again: "what does percussion mean?".Somebody else expressed his experience as follows: "The SPG is a vessel to experiment, to discover, to go into the world of sounds of instruments by which sound is created by beating, scraping, rubbing, shaking or rolling. Drums, timpanies, gongs, triangles and vibraphones are since no more sufficient." The SPG-music is not to be put into a drawer: The SPG-member Stephan Diethelm is brief: "We are playing contemporary music that wants to entertain".

Music Style percussion music

Musical Influences Bach, Strawinsky, Cage, Prince, James Brown

Artist History The members of the Swiss Percussion Group (SPG) are all classically trained but not afraid of the examination of various styles or of the confrontation with experimental risks. On the contrary! Since 1989 the four musicians became a unity with subtle teamwork and are accustomed to unusualness. Still, they do not consider themselves as motor rhythmists but rather as melodious percussionists. With that they created a distinctive personal image for themselves and are, thanks to their original concepts, an outstanding group.Apart from concerts at famous festivals (Luzerner Musikfestival, Zürcher Junifestwochen, Tonkünstlerfest) the SPG went on an extended tour with the saxophone player Urs Schoch.The co-operation with John Cage was a highlight of an invitation to the "Cage-weeks". Concerts with the Jazz guitar-player Roberto Bossard as well as the successful participation at several choral projects (Carmina Burana, Les Noces) followed.The project with the flutist Matthias Ziegler was the centre of attention in 1991/92 and led to over 50 performances. But soon new musical territory tempted: The poetic programme "Schwerklang Flirrkraft" with glass objects, clay instruments and ringing stones brought to the SPG a new attention of the media, a lot of public response as well as invitations to various international festivals (Thübingen, Freiburg, Breslau, Opole). In the same year, 1993, the quartet planned and worked out a new concert programme with the Jazz pianist Christoph Baumann (tour: autumn 1993/spring 1994). In addition concerts with the Swiss Youth Orchestra followed that included an extraordinary interpretation of the work of Toru Takemitsu "From me flows what you call Time". After completion of the CD with the Christoph Baumann programme in 1995 the SPG performed their new version of "Schwerklang Flirrkraft" on the occasion of two concerts in Germany: concept-music with glass objects and conventional percussion.In future an extended tour with exclusively own works is planned. Furthermore, the SPG wants to make use of the variety of combinations. Thus, the musicians are thinking of projects in co-operation with artists or projects that integrate dance or song. Even electric percussion should be checked on its possibilities. What remains important is the originality that incidentally has always been a quality of the Swiss Percussion Group.

Group Members mats eserstephan diethelmandreas zihlerlorenz haascarolyn leonhart

Instruments percussion and vocal

Albums Glass Songs/ SPG & Christoph Baumann/ SPG & Matthias Ziegler/ SPG & Swiss Youth Symphonic Orchestra

Press Reviews A short glance at the titles of the various concert-reports shows just how inspiring the performances of the Swiss Percussion Group (SPG) are: In the beginning was the stone and thereafter the SPG started percussion acrobatics in its meditation of the other kind. And that´s not all: the so provoked chamber music on pumpkins became a touchable experience not the least thanks to the magic with the vast instruments. No wonder, that what the critics experienced was a fascinating world of sounds, a demanding variety, a real sound-spectacle. In short, a surprising world was to be experienced and - since living memory existing - the question had to be asked again: "what does percussion mean?".Somebody else expressed his experience as follows: "The SPG is a vessel to experiment, to discover, to go into the world of sounds of instruments by which sound is created by beating, scraping, rubbing, shaking or rolling. Drums, timpanies, gongs, triangles and vibraphones are since no more sufficient

Location Muri, AG - Switzerland

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