Gavin Bryars, Claron McFadden & friends

A man sings a fragile melody. In tune, despite the age hidden in his voice. Two sentences in an endless loop. Along the way, he is joined by strings, wind instruments, and the accompaniment blossoms. But the mysterious man in the middle keeps on singing. Few contemporary compositions acquire such a mythical status as Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet by Gavin Bryars. Since its creation in 1971, this ode to a homeless man has grown into a modern classic.

In Brussels, festival artist Claron McFadden and Bryars himself initiate a collective ritual around this piece. Together with musical friends, conservatory students and Les Choux de Bruxelles, a choir of people with experience of poverty, they take over Bozar for one evening. For this one-of-a-kind ensemble, the composer writes a tailor-made version of Jesus’ Blood. This will be preceded by a new piece by Bryars and a live playlist of mini-concerts, curated by the students. Journey alongside them to the heart of humanity and don’t miss this unique happening.

programme

22:00 mini-concerts

Stroll from one venue to another, to listen for a while or wander off to another concert. You choose how long and what you listen to.

Salon Ovale

22:05 Sculpture Musicale

22:15 Deconstructed Music

22:30 Fauno

22:40 Sonic Meditation

Espace LeBoeuf

22:15 Cello

22:25 Saxophone Quartet

22:40 Aria

Balcony

21:45 Les Choux de Bruxelles

Vestiaire

22:15 Play the building

22:25 Participative Cloud

22:45 Play the building & Participative Cloud

23:00 Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet

Henry Le Boeuf Hall

Gavin Bryars (1943) 

‘Benedetto sia ’l giorno, e ’l mese e l’anno’ from Three Love Songs for soprano and piano (creation) 

Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet

00:00 live sampling & DJ-set

Round off the evening in the Klarafestival Lounge, next to Bozar

image © Oliver Abraham