Alan Pierson | Alarm Will Sound

Alan Pierson is the artistic director of new music ensemble Alarm Will Sound. In the interview with Beethovenfest artistic director Steven Walter he tells about the beginnings of the chamber orchestra in New York and the long-standing collaboration with Donnacha Dennehy, whose music the ensemble will perform at two concerts during its residency at Beethovenfest.

A new music ensemble like no other: Alarm Will Sound plays any exciting music of our contemporary time. Categories like art music or popular music are inconsequential to the ensemble.

Alan Pierson founded the orchestra in 1996 together with musicians from Eastman School of Music in New York. Since then, the ensemble treads independent paths in the world of new music. The musicians collaborate closely with composers and open up the concept of new music to all genres. Steven Walter comments:

»I couldn't find an ensemble with such breadth and openness in Europe. So we had to invite you here!«

As artist in residence at Beethovenfest 2022, the orchestra brings its versatility into the programmes. Noteworthy: The orchestra commissioned a piece for its residency with Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy, a dear and longstanding partner to the ensemble. »Land of Winter« is the first large orchestral work by this composer, premiered in Bonn on Sep 15th. Listen to Alan Pierson relate his personal connection to Dennehy's music.

The ultimate highlight of Alarm Will Sound's residency is the final festival party on Sep 17th, presented by Telekom Electronic Beats. Alarm Will Sound will demonstrate that an orchestra can, with acoustic instruments, produce the sound of electronica. The set of the evening is derived from the album »Acoustica«, with arrangements of electronic dance music by DJ legend Aphex Twin. Alan Pierson explains:

»In the 15 years since this album appeared, we have continued to explore the world of complex, imaginative and exciting electronic music. In recent years, so much adventurous and divers electronic music is being produced. Electronic music is everywhere now. We developed new cooperations with electronic artist in the last years. The set for Bonn expands on the ›Acoustica‹ album.«