Feet Become Ears Vol. 6: Sjaella & Liam Byrne

In the organizer's words:

"Take a walk at night. Walk so silently that the bottom of your feet become ears." - Inspired by the spirit of Pauline Oliveros, Feet Become Ears brings together a new generation of composers and musicians exploring how and where we listen and what we expect from contemporary music. Rooted in minimalism and post-minimalism, the collective builds on achievements of the American avant-garde and creates space for open, curious and connective listening. Feet Become Ears returns in 2025 with a new season exclusively in Leipzig. Three concerts will each feature a solo artist and an ensemble.

Sjaella, the Leipzig vocal sextet, is known for its imaginative and boundary-breaking approach to vocal music. Formed in 2005, Sjaella performs at major festivals worldwide and has won numerous awards. Their repertoire is created in close collaboration with international composers and ranges from early baroque music to contemporary minimalism, celebrated for example on "Origins" (CARA Award USA). The ensemble creates innovative stage and interdisciplinary projects, most recently Michel van der Aa's VR opera "From Dust" and major collaborations with Oper Leipzig. The most recent focus is the chamber opera "Primero Sueño", which will premiere at the Met Cloisters New York in 2025.

Liam Byrne is a versatile gambist known for his projects between early and contemporary music. Based in Berlin, he performs as a soloist and chamber musician with partners such as lutenist Jonas Nordberg and the Ensemble Continuum. As a former member of Phantasm and Fretwork, he has worked with composers such as Nico Muhly and David Lang as well as electronic, folk and pop artists. His work includes concerts, recordings, installations and his debut album on Bedroom Community. In 2024 he was awarded the Glenn Gould Bach Fellowship for his innovative research into English lyra-viol music.

www.feetbecomeears.com

Sjaella

Viola Blache (soprano)

Franziska Eberhardt (soprano)

Marie Fenske (soprano)

Marie Charlotte Seidel (mezzo-soprano)

Felicitas Erben (alto)

Luisa Klose (alto)

Helene Erben (alto)

Liam Byrne (viola da gamba)

English version:

"Take a walk at night. Walk so silently that the bottom of your feet become ears." - Inspired by the boundary-pushing spirit of Pauline Oliveros, Feet Become Ears brings together a new generation of composers and musicians committed to exploring how we listen, where we listen, and what we expect from contemporary music. Rooted in minimalism and postminimalism, the collective builds on the legacy of the American avant-garde and creates space for listening practices grounded in openness, curiosity, and connection. In 2025, Feet Become Ears returns with a new season taking place exclusively in Leipzig. Across three evenings, each concert pairs a solo artist with an ensemble, creating juxtapositions of intimate expression and collaborative sound.

Sjaella, the Leipzig-based vocal sextet, is recognized for their devoted ensemble spirit and boundary-crossing programming. Here, their pure, intertwined voices are set amid the spacious acoustics of the Philippuskirche, bringing contemporary a cappella to vibrant life. Rather than looking to early music, Sjaella's focus lies on present-day repertoire-a spectrum of shifting harmonies and new vocal colors.
Alongside, Liam Byrne reinvents the viola da gamba for the 21st century. His performances, rooted in experimental approaches, draw out the resonant depths and surprising lyricism of the instrument, exploring new works that rethink the language of strings and song.

Liam Byrne is a versatile viola da gamba player known for his boundary-crossing projects between early and contemporary music. Based in Berlin, he appears as a soloist and chamber musician with partners like lutenist Jonas Nordberg and Ensemble Continuum. A former member of ensembles such as Phantasm and Fretwork, Liam has also collaborated with composers including Nico Muhly and David Lang, as well as artists from electronic, folk, and pop genres. His work spans concerts, recordings, installations, and a debut solo album on Bedroom Community. In 2024, he was awarded the Glenn Gould Bach Fellowship for his innovative research into early English lyra viol music.

www.feetbecomeears.com

Sjaella

Viola Blache (soprano)

Franziska Eberhardt (soprano)

Marie Fenske (soprano)

Marie Charlotte Seidel (mezzo soprano)

Felicitas Erben (alto)

Luisa Klose (alto)

Helene Erben (alto)

Liam Byrne (viola da gamba)

Price information:

Advance booking € 16.50 / reduced € 14.30