Recovered Resonances explores the profound act of sonic reclamation: capturing vanishing resonance, actively recovering it, and reshaping it into new life. At its core lies meta-resonance – the deliberate retrieval and transformation of acoustic energy and its physical source.
The project began when Sofia Borges encountered a discarded piano frame destined for dismantling and disposal after a performance. Recognizing its latent sonic potential, she rescued it – committed to granting it new life and a distinct identity as both instrument and resonant performance object. Stripped of keys and hammers, this skeletal instrument became the heart of the project: a resonator, percussion source, and electronic canvas.
In this duo, trumpeter Brad Henkel and Sofia Borges engage in deep dialogue with the frame. Henkel’s trumpet, conceptually linked to Luciano Berio’s resonance explorations (Sequenza X), doesn’t merely accompany – it activates the piano strings through vibration, initiating resonant cycles that develop into intricate interplay. Their process intertwines shared foundational research and composition with structured improvisation, drawing on the distinct artistic practices of both creators. Together, they delve into the frame’s sonic archaeology, creating works specifically for this unique duo that embody the cyclical nature of recovery and transformation.
Also on 31.01.2026 in the course of the Symposium: Improvisation und Resonanz.
Recovered Resonances is supported by the Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gesellschaftlichen Zusammenhalt.
