Helmut Lachenmann @ 90

On the occasion of the 90th birthday of Helmut Lachenmann, one of the most influential and deeply visionary composers of the last 100 years, the Goethe-Institut Boston hosts a mini-symposium with composition students and professors from New England. Six informal presentations by a variety of mainly Boston-area composers, historians and musicians give insight into his work and are the basis for a discussion on Lachenmann's unique sound world and his continuing influence on composers today. The goal of the following discussion is to formulate a list of questions for the composer in an upcoming internal zoom conversation for composition and other interested students. The mini-symposium is free and open to the interested public. Please rsvp here: <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/helmut-lachenmann-90-tickets-1730904705569?aff=oddtdtcreator">Helmut Lachenmann @ 90 Tickets, Sat, Oct 4, 2025 at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite</a> SCHEDULE Rick Burkhardt: Resonance - Helmut Lachenmann's Allegro Sostenuto 10:00–10:30 AM&nbsp; Helmut Lachenmann’s Allegro Sostenuto takes as its material the dynamic envelope of notes played on the piano, and explores artificially altering that envelope by combining it with the varied, controllable dynamic envelopes of the clarinet of cello. This presentation investigates how such alterations inform the formal structures of the piece, analyzing the piece’s first section in detail, and proposing a way of hearing the form of the entire piece in relation to discoveries from that analysis. Richard Carrick: Performing Salut für Caudwell&nbsp; 10:30–11:00 AM Stephen Drury:&nbsp;Serynade: Melodies, resonances, silences 11:00-11:30 AM&nbsp; An investigation of Lachenmann's major work for piano solo, its techniques and sonic implications. Block chords, figurations, repeated articulations, and sympathetic resonances combine to create an emotionally evocative and visionary spiritual journey. The resources of the piano are expanded by careful compositional attention, provoking an intimate and compelling degree of listening guided by a clear and exquisite formal structure. BREAK 11:30–11:45 AM Rebecca Marchand:&nbsp;Darstellung v. Notieren: Considering Dimensionality in Graphic Notation 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM In a 1970 interview with Ursula Stürzbecher, Helmut Lachenman used the phrase "graphische Darstellung" (versus "Notieren") to describe notations in&nbsp;Pression and Guero. This work-in-progress probes the possible significance of that phrase, suggesting that it might be more than just an issue of semantics and could ultimately provide a keener and more specific analytical taxonomy for discussing graphic notation. Nima Janmohammadi:&nbsp;That rare joy of listening... 12:15–12:45 PM In this presentation, I examine the generative properties of musical objects in Lachenmann’s&nbsp;Zwei Gefühle&nbsp;(1992), tracing how a basic musical idea evolves into large-scale form. I will show how these generative properties permeate every dimension of the musical material—harmony, timbre, temporal treatment, and the morphology of gestures. In particular, I will highlight how musical objects themselves act as formative agents, shaping dynamics, acoustical oppositions, temporal proportions, and ultimately the overall architecture of the work. Efstratios Minakakis:&nbsp;Architectonics of Sonic Design: Towards a Gestural Syntax in Lachenmann’s “Grido” 12:45–1:15 PM This presentation proposes a method of conceptualizing aspects of gestural syntax in Lachenmann’s work and applies it to an extended passage of his third string quartet,&nbsp;Grido. The method complements Lachenmann’s idea of sound-types (1966/91) with analytical tools adapted from Dora A. Hanninen’s “Theory of Analysis.” Using the latter, I organize individual sound morphemes into associative sets and examine how they interact with each other and evolve into a network of associative landscapes. I further address how the mechanics of their interaction and evolution create syntactical implications that inform the larger sonic design. LUNCH BREAK 1:15–3:15 PM DISCUSSION &amp; QUESTIONS FOR HELMUT LACHENMANN 3:15–5:30 PM

Goethe-Institut Boston

AClarke

S22: conversations

Wondering what to do in Boston? Places to eat? Free activities? Good for a group? Date night spot? Girls night out? The best things to do? Ask Joyraft!

Best places to go in Boston? Things to do? Places to eat?

Questions & answers about things to do in Boston

Recs 💬

Community recs 💬

S4: top picks

The most fun, cool and unique things to do in Boston. Can’t miss events, shows and experiences. Concerts, restaurants, bars, free things in Boston and beyond.

The most fun and cool events happening around Boston

Hot and new things to do in Boston

Hot & new

Hot & new 🔥

S11: happening this weekend

What to do in Boston this weekend? From festivals, concerts, performances, free events, screenings and more, Joyraft has the best things to do in Boston.

25+ things to do in Boston/Cambridge/Somerville this weekend

Things to do in Boston this weekend

This wknd

This weekend for you

S21: roundups

Our top picks: outdoor dining, free events, spring festivals, best bars, upcoming concerts, museum parties - the latest in and around Boston.  Slug: joyraft-top-picks-best-things-to-do-boston-ma

Top picks of the best things to do in and around Boston

Joyraft picks: Boston’s best things to do

Roundups ⭐️

Curated by Joyraft ⭐️

S28: calendar experiences

This week in Boston

This week in Boston 📆

This week 📆

S20: c+d experiences

Discover new, unique events and experiences happening in and around Boston. Perfect for date night, good for a group or with a friend. Be the first to know.

The newest events happening in and around Boston

The newest events on Joyraft

Just added

Just added to Joyraft

S16: editor picks

The most unique and can’t miss things coming up in Boston / Cambridge / Somerville and beyond. Festivals, food, drinks, fairs, concerts, art and free activities.

Unique and Can’t Miss Things to Do in Boston

Can’t-miss things to do in Boston 🚨

Can't-miss things to do 🚨

S2 (A): top experiences

The most popular things to do on Joyraft. Concerts, restaurants, bars, events, parties, openings, kid friendly, date ideas, free things in Boston and beyond.

Top 20 things to do in Boston

Top 20: Joyraft’s most popular

Top 20

Top 20 on Joyraft

S3 (A): trending experiences

Discover can’t miss events and things to do in Boston. The most fun, unique and cool events coming to the Boston area this spring and summer.

The hottest events happening in Boston

Trending events on Joyraft

Trending 📈

S17: interest based

Your guide to everything free in and around Boston. From events, to fairs, to festivals, to outdoors. Joyraft has all the free events happening near you.

100+ free things to do in Boston and beyond

Free things to do in Boston

Free things to do

S19: interest based

Kid-friendly events in Boston

S18: interest based

Where to eat and drink in Boston? Joyraft has Boston’s newest bars, restaurants and specials. Drinks and pre fixe dinner menus. Cambridge & Somerville too.

Boston Bars and Restaurants: Events and Openings

Food & drink experiences in Boston

Food & drink experiences 

Where

Helmut Lachenmann @ 90

Website

Where?