Singing Hammers

SPECTRA once again joins forces—with sticks, mallets and dazzling virtuosity—with cimbalom master Luigi Gaggero, one of today's foremost ambassadors of this extraordinary instrument. Originally developed in Hungary, the cimbalom occupies a unique place between the worlds of strings and percussion. Long associated with the folk traditions of Hungary and Romania, its bright, resonant sound has captivated generations of composers. From Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály to Pierre Boulez and Peter Eötvös, its distinctive timbre, rhythmic precision and rich palette of colours have inspired some of the most compelling music of the past century. Singing Hammers brings together three works written over the past two decades especially for Luigi Gaggero and SPECTRA, each revealing a different facet of the instrument's remarkable expressive range. In Luca Francesconi's Kubrick's Bone, inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey, the cimbalom becomes a symbol of transformation and technological evolution. Supported by a virtuosic ensemble, this ancient instrument embarks on a journey that is at once primal and futuristic. Stefano Gervasoni's Gramigna—named after the persistent creeping grass often dismissed as a weed—unfolds through constant transformation, fragmentation and renewal. Short musical gestures take root, spread and reappear in unexpected ways, gradually weaving a rich sonic fabric in which what might seem intrusive becomes an essential part of the musical landscape. In (l'espace d'une page), Daan Janssens explores the fragile tension between sound and silence that lies at the heart of his musical language. Here, the cimbalom assumes the role of a quasi-soloist, engaging in an intimate dialogue with the ensemble. With extraordinary sensitivity to timbre and resonance, Janssens creates a work in which the instrument's unique voice becomes inseparable from the ensemble itself.