INA grm commissioned a new composition from Christina Vantzou. The Reintegration of the Ear is a piece for tape, voice, bass flute and electronics, performed by Irène Kurka, John Also Bennett and herself at Akousma #1 on November 4, 2023.

The Reintegration of the Ear is a suite of works for electronics and acoustic sound sources coexisting with natural environments, both terrestrial and subaquatic. Composed of hydrophone recordings from Sifnos, field recordingsfrom the island of Lesvos, silky high frequencies and dewy ARP tones, the work undulates andunfolds with an acute awareness of space.Moving and morphing like the weather and deftlypsychedelic, the sweet haze of late summer permeates the work.Salt, foam, rock, southern windand ripe fruit are conjured and sent intothe cellular level.Featuring a vocal performance fromSoprano Irene Kurka and bass flute performed by frequent collaborator John Also Bennett, the trioenvelope dissolve and disrupt space in equal turns.

Hear Christina Vantzou share the insights about creating this work on Irene Kurka’s podcast for contemporary composition here. With Irene as a collaborator on ‘The Reintegration of the Ear’, Christina Vantzou and Irene get into many of the intimate details of collaboration, approaches to listening, mentalities & somatic states around the composing spectrum.

Commissioned by INA grm (2023) 
Premiered by INA grm in Paris, France (2023)