With singer Sterre Konijn, Ensemble VONK presents a brand new edition of A songbook of rare feelings. A highly successful first edition inspired VONK to turn it into an ongoing project. A songbook of rare feelings 2 is a program of poetry and compositions, written specifically for the ensemble. Music and literature merge, allowing different genres to coexist freely. Not only did Lisanne van Aert, Liz Berry, and Andrés Cerpa write texts for the second edition and brand new songs be composed for VONK, but two instrumental songs will also premiere. The compositions were written by Christopher Cerrone, Ken Thomson, Aftab Darvishi, Celia Swart, and Nicoline Soeter.
Three lyricists wrote new song lyrics rich in imagery and reflection, all starting from the same point: a rare feeling. Each lyricist approaches this rare emotion differently. One creates more distance from the feeling, asking questions, circling around it like an animal around its prey, while another immediately evokes a physical sensation through imagery. Even if it remains elusive, this sensation can be expressed directly in music. Five composers have let the poetic lyrics sink in and translated them into music with complete freedom. Transparent, lyrical, expressive, rhythmically challenging, and with ever-changing sound combinations of vocals, saxophones, clarinets, and percussion.
The collection continues to expand. Eight moods took on a life of their own in the first edition, released on album in January 2023 by SONNA Records. The album received four stars in De Volkskrant and, in addition to all the live performances, has been extensively featured on various NPO Klassiek programs. With A songbook of rare feelings, VONK also made its television debut on NTR's Podium Klassiek.
Volkskrant **** January 6, 2023: “The gem of this album is I Disappear. Composer Kate Moore wrote the song based on a poem by singer-songwriter Lucky Fonz III. Rianne Wilbers begins solo, but from the second verse onwards, mysterious brass tones float around her voice. How they ultimately fade away in the spirit of the lyrics: sublime.”
