The element earth is the focus of Faces of Earth, the new part of Faces by Martin Fondse. Each year this series of compositions will deal with one of the four classical elements: earth, air, fire and water. These will be linked to current global issues, especially in relation to climate change.

Faces of Earth will be performed by a hybrid ensemble of players, many of them multi-instrumentalists, including the six female singers of Vox Sturnus. They will provide reflective, sometimes biting commentary through text and poetry, among others by Shakespeare: “My crown is in my heart, not on my head; Not decked with diamonds and Indian stones, Nor to be seen: my crown is called content: A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy” (from Henry VI).

Band leader and jazz pianist Martin Fondse has proven himself extensively as a composer, for example as the National Composer of The Netherlands in 2021 and with the BIMHUIS Compositional Assignment in 2022, which led to the piece Diamonds. Earlier this year the Martin Fondse Voice Orchestra gave a successful concert at the North Sea Jazz Festival, where a preview of Faces of Earth was presented.

Margriet Sjoerdsma vocals, Anne Marie Roel Messerschmidt vocals, Julia Werner vocals, Annie Tangberg cello/vocals, Q flutes/vocals, Thora Sveinsdóttir viola/vocals, Miguel Boelens saxes/bass clarinet, Romain Bly french horn/trumpet, Martin Fondse piano/keyboards/compositions, Eric van der Westen bass, Dirk-Peter Kölsch drums