Back » Scenic Music - Sound rituals - Performance           Hidden Mother     Hidden Mother is a contemporary music trio focused on scenic music. What distinguishes Hidden Mother from other groups in this genre is that they incorporate performance art within their shows. Music by pioneers of "théâtre musical", such as Georges Aperghis, contemporary composers like Hanna Hartman, Lisa Streich and Esaias Järnegard is mixed with performance art by artists like Marina Abramovic and Rebecca Horn. The group also makes unusual interpretations of works by for example Steve Reich. All these things combined make Hidden Mother's performances unique and surprising experiences.   The members are all professional percussionists, but Hidden Mother is far from a traditional percussion ensemble. The instruments they use are often different sound objects and electronics.   Hidden Mother is: Ulrik Nilsson, Magdalena Meitzner and Pontus Langendorf. The trio is based in Stockholm, Sweden. Magdalena Meitzner is a composer as well as freelancing musician. Pontus Langendorf and Ulrik Nilsson are members of the internationally acclaimed Kroumata Percussion Ensemble.     Repertoire, music: Georges Aperghis: Les guetteurs de sons (1981) John Cage: Inlets (1977) Morton Feldman: King of Denmark (1964, trio version) Hanna Hartman: Message from the lighthouse (2009) Hanna Hartman: Borderlines (2010) Esaias Järnegard: Night Work (2009) Magdalena Meitzner: Zirkel (2009) Magdalena Meitzner: Raum (2010) Magdalena Meitzner: Drei Gesichter/Thymos (2011) Magdalena Meitzner: Tarot des Sens (2012) Steve Reich: Pendulum music (1968) Lisa Streich: Play time (2012) Leo Correia de Verdier: Ikena (2012, with soprano)   To be premièred 2014:   Lina Järnegard: N.N Esaias Järnegard: N.N Mattias Sköld: N.N Repertoire, performance:   Hector Meinhof: Braille (2010) Marina Abramovic: Rhythm 10 - the star (1973)

                                       Rebecca Horn: Der Federfinger (1972)

                                       Video art:

                                       Hector Meinhof: Malcrêatiure (2011)

                                       Pontus Langendorf: The Fifth Squire (2012) Collaboration with Magnus Bunnskog

                                       Hidden Mother: Audio Graffiti (2011)

                                       Reviews:

                                       "I was fascinated the whole time. An exciting concert that promises

                                       a lot for the future" - Håkan Hagegård, opera legend
 
                                       "Inspires the audience imagination, makes them associate and reflect

                                       on other art forms" - André Chini, composer

                                       During the early years of photography, when the exposure time exceeded

                                       the patience of a child, the mother was often forced to hold the child so

                                       that it would not move and render the picture blurry. The mother herself was

                                       hidden under a cloak. The phenomenon is known as Hidden Mother, which is

                                       also the name of the percussion ensemble consisting of the Kroumata members

                                       Ulrik Nilsson and Pontus Langendorf together with Magdalena Meitzner. In the

                                       shadow of the Baltic Sea Festival they performed a well put together programme

                                       where they in the context of Hidden Mother examined the "invisible" qualities

                                       of music and stage performance.
                                       In all of the works there was a tension between the concrete and the abstract,

                                       between presence and absence, between what we hear and what we cannot

                                       discern, or only slightly so. Thus the concert started with a mimed ritual around

                                       vision and ended with a feathered hand closing eyelids (a tribute to the german

                                       artist Rebecca Horn's performance art piece from the early 70's). In between the

                                       audience was treated to a well choreographed performance. The whole might be

                                       considered as stronger than it's individual parts, but among these were of course

                                       a couple of gems.
                                       For example Magdalena Meitzner's solo piece Zirkel, where small fragments of "hidden"

                                       voices broke into an otherwise very visually sounding percussion choreoghraphy.

                                       Otherwise the high point was Esaias Järnegards fenomenal Night Work. In a large drum

                                       a string was fastened and by pulling on the string with varied power and friction

                                       Pontus Langendorf managed to obtain a rich variety of darkly rumbling sonorities.

                                       There was also a formal lucidity, also in a choreographical sense, where the musician

                                       moved along the stage along the hanging sheets of music.  

                                       -Andreas Engström Nutida Musik 3/2010 (translation Hidden Mother)