Simon James Phillips: CONTAIN Performances

This collaboration of the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble (Hong Kong) and Ensemble Resonanz (Hamburg, Germany), travels along the questions of containing, of shipping and shifting cultural identities. Featuring new compositions of Berlin-based collaborative composer Simon James Phillips; installations, algorithmic programming and a new composition by Hong Kong-based composer/artist Samson Young, CONTAIN opens a space of in-betweenness. With streaming sounds, videos and interview fragments, deep darkness and lights, musicians and audience float through states of disorientation. The project explores different sensations of getting lost, and new ways of coming together in the in-between. This is water, a no man’s land. The practice-based research project is the result of an intensive workshop period in Hong Kong in 2019, interviews with musicians, philosophers and curators conducted by project artistic director Folkert Uhde and dramatic advisor Elisa Erkelenz. CONTAIN workshop 2.0 - as an in progress production -  further builds upon the music, installations and conversations from the past three years, looking ahead towards a larger-scale full production.

Featuring 12 musicians of the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble in an open rehearsal of a new collaborative composition directed by Simon James Phillips. 

Simon James Phillips is an Australian composer and musician living in Berlin. Diversity and collaboration are the most noticeable qualities of his work. Musically, he defies most existing labels and is at home in the contexts of classical, new music, experimental, jazz, electronic music. This cross-fertilisation informs his many creative and performative approaches resulting in unique concerts and presentations. He collaborates with dance, theatre, art/installation, and film. He creates immersive work that explores the perception of time and place through sound by building expansive sonic atmospheres.

Simon takes particular care to tailor his compositions and performances to each individual context. He often incorporates a method of collaborative composition that invites musicians to contribute creatively and always seeks to understand and utilise the site specific qualities available for each project.

Admission fee: HK$50 Register here .

© Simon James Phillips Featuring 12 musicians of the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble in an open rehearsal of a new collaborative composition directed by Simon James Phillips.

Simon James Phillips is an Australian composer and musician living in Berlin. Diversity and collaboration are the most noticeable qualities of his work. Musically, he defies most existing labels and is at home in the contexts of classical, new music, experimental, jazz, electronic music. This cross-fertilisation informs his many creative and performative approaches resulting in unique concerts and presentations. He collaborates with dance, theatre, art/installation, and film. He creates immersive work that explores the perception of time and place through sound by building expansive sonic atmospheres.