Burkhard Beins (Lower Saxony, d 1964) lives in Berlin since 1995. As a composer/performer working in the fields of experimental music and sound art he is known for his definitive use of percussion in combination with selected objects. Furthermore he works with electronics, electro-acoustic instruments and devices . Since the late 1980’s he performs at internationally renowned venues and festivals throughout Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. He works solo, in collaboration with Keith Rowe, Sven-Åke Johansson, Chris Abrahams, Orm Finnendahl, John Tilbury, Charlemagne Palestine and is also a member of groups like Perlonex, Activity Center, Polwechsel, The Sealed Knot, Phosphor, Mensch Mensch Mensch, and Splitter Orchester. Meanwhile he has released more than 40 CDs and LPs. Burkhard Beins gives lectures and workshops, has published several articles on music theory, and is a co-editor of the book „Echtzeitmusik Berlin – Self-Defining a Scene“.
Born 1957; Phil Durrant studied classical violin and piano at the London College Of Music. Since 1977 he has been a freelance musician, improviser and composer. He has performed at festivals all over Europe, U.S.A and Canada and has had his music broadcast on radio and television in many countries.Current electronic projects include Ticklish, Secret Measures (with John Butcher), Lunge (with Gail Brand, Pat Thomas and Mark Sanders) and the international electronic orchestra, Mimeo. He also plays violin in Assumed Possibilities (with Chris Burn, Rhodri Davies and Mark Wastell), “Beinhaltung”, a trio with Radu Malfatti and Thomas Lehn another trio with Berlin musicians, Burkhard Beins and Ignaz Schick, and the string quartet Quatuor Accorde, with Tony Wren, Charlotte Hug and Mark Wastell. Durrant has also played in the very influential trio with John Butcher and John Russell, as well as the Chris Burn Ensemble.During his career he has played with many creative and important musicians, including: Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Grooverider, Shut up and Dance, John Zorn, Phil Minton, and Tom Cora. He has also been awarded various Arts Council grants to research and develop his use of electronics. Two current duo projects – at early 2001 – were: Durrant, violin and software synth/sampler with Wade Matthews, bass clarinet, alto flute; and Durrant software synth/sampler with Mark Sanders drums and sequenced samples.Phil Durrant has also been collaborating and composing music for a wide variety of choreographers. These include PLastic chill, In the face of a stranger and Deja deux with Maxine Doyle; Salome, Concrete and On stage with Susanne Thomas; Partial site, near view and Delay for five with Gill Clarke; Future perfekt with Ana Sanchez-Colberg; and Borderlander and Home zone with Sophia Lycouris. Salome, Concrete and Partial site, near view were site-specific and involved speaker systems in a number of different rooms. He recently wrote the music for a new play by Nick Sutton called Home movies.
improviser, performer, composerConcerts in Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Far East with various groups, hundreds of musicians and artists from other disciplines (dance, sculpture, video, poetry) as well as solo. Works sometimes for film and theater, leads sometimes improvisation workshops.