It is common knowledge: a school class makes a noise all the time. How annoying! But what does happen if this school class consciously deals with exactly these noises and sounds?

The project Querklang – Experimental Composition at School reveals precisely that. It has seized this question and encourages pupils of various schools to create an entire composition as a group, using only their own everyday sounds. This might be a bicycle, newspaper, balloon or watering can.

In the context of Berlin’s international festival for current music MaerzMusik 2010 the world premieres of the self-created group compositions will finally be performed in public. Visitors of the MaerzMusik have every reason to be curious – the QuerKlang concerts have evolved into a highlight and insider tip of the festival over the last years.

Since 2002 the QuerKlang project has been inspiring and motivating various schools in Berlin to fill the hole in conventional musical lessons, approaching music passively, by actively creating music and dealing with experimental and contemporary music.

Within about ten teaching units of 90 minutes each, the classes work on the creation of their compositions and presentations. The quality of everyday sounds is identified, the impact of silence examined and the contrasts between chaos and organisation becomes part of the composing process. Self-built instruments are used and unusual ways of playing usual instruments found. All imaginable sounds become part of the process and the final composition. In this composing process, seriousness, eagerness and a tremendous dose of motivation, passion and fun are constant companions.

QuerKlang: “Klangwirbel” by Kultkom

Each participating class is supported by a professional, contemporary composer, one or two students of music from the University of Arts in Berlin as well as their familiar music teacher. The connection of the different working fields opens up new ideas, give chances to gain new experience and broadens the horizon of all partcipants.

Due to the experimental concept, QuerKlang is able to bring all kids of different age, various types of school, different social, cultural and musical background together. This circumstance results in extremely multifaceted and miscellaneous compositions.

For more information and upcoming concerts please visit the MaerzMusik website.

— Anne Schumacher