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Ensemble Nikel

@ensemblenikel

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Nikel is an electroacoustic quartet based in Bern. Established 2006, it is mainly active in the contemporary music scene. Corpora Ex Machina, new EP:

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Tomorrow in Bern (Rosengarten, September 17th, 18:30 we’re accompanying sunset with Klaus Lang’s „Bright Darkness“. Till then, here is a taste from the premiere in Darmstadt back in 2018. See you around. by @ensemblenikel

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a month ago

Season opening announcement: we‘ll be kicking off our 26/27 the season with an outdoor concert in Bern (Rosengarten, September 17th, 18:30) featuring a 60 minute piece by Klaus Lang titled „Bright Darkness“. The event and music are designed to accompany sunset so as we hit the last note, we should be under a stary sky. Looking forward to having you with us as we start a very special year but more on that in coming weeks. by @ensemblenikel

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a month ago

Today is Bandcamp Friday and for the occasion we’re offering our remaining copies of our latest EP (“Corpora Ex. Machina”) dedicated to the music of Belgian composer Stefan Prins for a reduced price. Further news is that we’ve completed the mixing and mastering of all pieces we’ve recorded for our 20th anniversary box set due for December 6th, 2026. The box will feature 3 vinyls, a booklet and access code to a new documentary film by American filmographer ,Paul Moon, capturing Nikel’s US tour in the summer of 2025. Bandcamp link in bio. Have a great weekend everyone.

Album info:
“Corpora Ex Machina” is dedicated to the music of our friend and longtime collaborator, the Belgian composer Stefan Prins. On this limited edition - available exclusively on vinyl (100 copies) you’ll hear on side A the “Flesh+Prosthesis #0-2” cycle for tenor saxophone, percussion, piano, e-guitar and soundtrack written for the group between the years 2012-2014. Then, side B offers the extension of the “Flesh+Prosthesys” cycle in the form of a piece for quartet, ensemble (guest performance featuring musicians from HKB Bern & Sonic Space Basel music schools, conducted by Lennart Dohms) titled: “I’m Your Body”. Recorded, mixed & mastered by Stefano Bechini & Patrik Zosso and designed by Harel Schreiber (H_M studio) by @ensemblenikel

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2 months ago

New video out! Filmed last summer in New York City at the TIME:SPANS festival, here is Christopher Trapani’s new piece for Nikel titled “Sunk 45’s”. Played a few times already, it is one of the most particular works written for us, capturing both Trapani’s idiosyncratic language as well as the “smell” of the work’s origin and whereabouts. Thank you Chris and all involved in bringing this gem to life. Video available in bio link. Credits as follows: H. Paul Moon, cameras and editing
Kyabell Glass, additional cameras
Dennis Cembalo, additional camera
Nathaniel Butler, audio recording engineer
Nico Osborne, assistant audio engineer
Caley Monahon-Ward, audio mixer
Abigail Hoke-Brady, lighting design

TIME:SPANS Festival Staff
Thomas Fichter, executive/artistic director
Caley Monahon-Ward, director of production
Kayleigh Butcher, program coordinator
Carly Levin, production manager
Chris Griswold, assistant production manager by @ensemblenikel

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5 months ago

🗓️Am Fr 22.5., 20:00 bietet @ensemblenikel seinem Publikum ein Prisma, durch das sich die entscheidende Frage erleben lässt, der sich jedes Ensemble früher oder später stellen muss: «What about now?»
 Um dieser Frage nachzugehen, vereint das Programm drei neue Werke aus dem jüngst erarbeiteten Repertoire und zeichnet damit ein lebendiges Panorama der Klanglandschaften und künstlerischen Figuren, mit denen Nikel derzeit befasst ist. Zu hören sind Werke von @lisailleansound, @trapanicomposer sowie eine Uraufführung von @tobiaskrebs_.

🔗Alle Informationen und Tickets unter www.garedunord.ch

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🗓️On Friday 22 May at 8.00 pm, Ensemble Nikel offers its audience a prism through which to experience the crucial question that every ensemble must ask itself sooner or later: «What about now?»

To explore this question, the programme brings together three new works from the ensemble’s recently developed repertoire, painting a vivid panorama of the soundscapes and artistic figures with which Nikel is currently engaged. The programme features works by Lisa Illean and Christopher Trapani, as well as a world premiere by Tobias Krebs.

🔗Full details and tickets at www.garedunord.ch

📸 1–3 © Gerhard Kuehne; 4 © Dana Schmid

#garedunordbasel #spielzeit2526 taken in Gare du Nord Basel by @ensemblenikel

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5 months ago

On with our „20th of the month“ release project, this deep cut from the vault is dedicated in loving memory to our late good friend and collaborator, composer Thomas Kessler. Thomas passed away exactly 2 years ago in April and left behind a phenomenal body of work, an enormous trail of admiring artists and a hole in our hearts. Our last and most extensive collaboration was on his „Oratorium“ written for Nikel, 6 voices (Cantando Admont), organ (Daniel Glaus) & electronics. Conducted by Jonathan Stockheimer an excerpt of the work is now available on our soundcloud (link in Bio). We miss you Thomas. #contemporarymusic #oratorium by @ensemblenikel

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6 months ago

Our 20th of the month release is featuring this time Rebecca Saunders’ piece for Nikel and Alto Noa Frenkel - “Us Dead Talk Love” captured live in New York City at the Time:Spans festival 2025. Thank you Thomas Fichter and the wonderful festival team, as well to Paul Moon for the beautiful documentation. Link In Bio. Enjoy. by @ensemblenikel

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7 months ago

Bravi!! ✨
What a beautiful evening with @ensemblenikel - intense, precise, and full of energy.
So grateful for the warm audience and to @prozess_kultur_bar for hosting IGNM Bern.
Merci ❤️
@yarondeutsch @b_archinal @patrick_stadler_ @antoinefrançoise 🙏🏽🔥

Pictures : @_lapataconera / @erwinfonseca.a by @ensemblenikel

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8 months ago

Hi from Renens everyone. Our 20th anniversary is due at the end of the year and true to our word to reach out on the 20th of each month, we have a special announcement today.
We have a new EP out titled “Corpora Ex Machina” and dedicated to the music of our friend and longtime collaborator, the Belgian composer Stefan Prins. On this limited edition - available exclusively on vinyl (100 copies) you’ll hear on side 1 the “Flesh+Prosthesis #0-2” cycle for tenor saxophone, percussion, piano, e-guitar and soundtrack. Then, side 2 offers the extension of the “F&P” cycle in the form of a piece for quartet, ensemble (guest performance featuring musicians from HKB Bern & Sonic Space Basel music schools, conducted by Lennart Dohms) titled: “I’m Your Body”. Recorded, mixed & mastered by Stefano Bechini & Patrik Zosso and designed by Harel Schreiber (H_M studio) the album is available exclusively through direct orders on our website at the bio link (Vinyl includes a digital download code). Thank you to all our collaborators and featured guests. This was a pure jem. by @ensemblenikel

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8 months ago

Tomorrow night, as part of the @ignmbern concert series we’ll be playing a very special concert featuring music by @elenarykova_ @lisailleansound & Alex Paxton (@dreammmusics ). Special not only because it is a pleasure to play to our home base crowd but because we’ll be taking the opportunity to share first few copies of our upcoming new vinyl. Available as a limited edition (100 copies) the EP features guest performances of musicians from both @hkb_musik and @hsmbasel_sonicspace schools, this one was such a pleasure to record and make. Designed by @mule.driver and recorded, mixed & mastered by Patrik Zosso & @stefano.beko.bechini , only thing left for you is to guess who’s the featured composer. More info on the public release coming soon. Till then, see you tomorrow night, 20:00 @prozess_kultur_bar by @ensemblenikel

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8 months ago

LET’S CELEBRATE @ensemblenikel 20 years Bday!

18.02.2026 @prozess_kultur_bar
20:00 (doors 19:30)
Live: @ensemblenikel

Ensemble Nikel is a unique quartet blending acoustic instruments and electronics into an intense and distinctive form of contemporary chamber music. Winner of the Swiss Music Prize 2023, the ensemble is internationally renowned for their bold sound and precision.

Programme:
Alex Paxton– Needy Mouth Corners (2025) @dreammmusics
Lisa Illean – Tiding III (2025) @lisailleansound
Elena Rykova – Forget Me Not (2022) @elenarykova_

Ensemble Nikel:
Brian Archinal (percussion) @b_archinal
Yaron Deutsch (electric guitar) @yarondeutsch
Antoine Françoise (piano, keyboards)
Patrick Stadler (saxophone) @patrick_stadler_
Maxime Le Saux (sound)

IGNM Bern | Ensemble Nikel | 18.02.2026
Prozess Kultur & Bar Bern
Graphic : @jiri_oplatek

#IGNMBern #EnsembleNikel #ProzessBern #ContemporaryMusic NeueMusik ExperimentalMusic Electroacoustic BernEvents SwissMusic by @ensemblenikel

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8 months ago

2026 is going to be a very special year for NIKEL as at the end of it, on December 6th to be exact, we’ll be marking our 20th anniversary. Building up to the occasion we want to invite you for a trip down memory lane, in which we’ll be publishing on the 20th of each month a jem from our archive not yet seen before. To kick start the journey, here is our performance of Didem Coskunseven’s - “Ext.TheWoods.Night” live from Bern at the 2023 Swiss Music Prize (full video in bio link).
Enjoy and stay tuned for what’s ahead. #contemporarymusic #chambermusic #moogsynthesizers #selmerparis #gandlguitars by @ensemblenikel

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9 months ago