Danish Chamber Players, percussionist David Hildebrandt and conductor James Sherlock will present the world premiere of Where the body falters, it does not fall silent, a new percussion concerto by Signe Lykke. The premiere takes place on 20 August 2026 at the From the Shadows Festival in Copenhagen.
In her programme note, Signe Lykke writes:
Where the body falters, it does not fall silent is a work for solo percussion and chamber ensemble that draws its form and expressive language from the architecture and lived experience of the human body – specifically, the spine. Both structural and symbolic, the spine becomes a framework through which sound, motion, and perception are explored.
Signe Lykke took her first inspirations from the art exhibition Second Body at KUMUS, Fuglsang Art Musem which explored representations of bodies outside the 'norm'. She explains: 'I explored rhythmic tableau which, in some abstract way, sought to reflect what it means to have a ‘body that doesn’t fit in’. I find the ‘translation’ from the body in motion to pure rhythmic polyphony incredibly meaningful and another way of highlighting what it means to be different.'
A pre-premiere performance and talk will take place at KUMUS on 18 August 2026 where Liza Kaaring, curator of Second Body, will be presenting the art exhibition that inspired the concerto.
Where the body falters, it does not fall silent is Signe Lykke's second percussion concerto. She has previously written Bell Jar (2023) for symphony orchestra and three percussionists.
In addition to Signe Lykke's concerto, the world premiere performance will also feature a brand-new chamber work by Lil Lacy: NÆR for oboe, flute and piano.
Performance details
World Premiere
Thursday 20 August 2026 at 19.30
Danish Chamber Players
David Hildebrandt, percussion
James Sherlock, conductor
From the Shadows Festival 2026
Unitarian Church Society
Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
Pre-Premiere and Talk
Tuesday 18 August 2026 at 17.00
Danish Chamber Players
David Hildebrandt, percussion
James Sherlock, conductor
KUMUS, Fuglsang Art Museum
Toreby, Denmark
