The Orchestra of Futurist Noise Intoners directed by Luciano Chessa

Sound and noise played a vital role in the artistic revolution of the 20th century, mainly through the urban soundscape. Italian Futurists such as Filippo Tommaso Marinetti and Luigi Russolo embraced noise as a new aesthetic reflecting modern life. In his 1913 manifesto, The Art of Noise, Russolo advocated for the inclusion of mechanical and industrial sounds in music, fundamentally redefining its boundaries

In August 2023, as part of the Hilo project curated by Bjørnar Habbestad (NyMusikk), Gerard Lebik (Sanatorium of Sound Festival 2015-2024), and led by Zuzanna Fogtt (Foundation of Contemporary Art In Situ), we had the opportunity to present three new compositions commissioned specifically for The Orchestra of Futurist Noise Intoners.

This unique sixteen-person ensemble, directed by Luciano Chessa, performs on meticulously reconstructed Intonarumori – experimental instruments originally designed in the early 20th century by Luigi Russolo, a key figure of the Futurist movement initiated by Filippo Marinetti.

Russolo’s intonarumori were mechanical acoustic instruments that expanded orchestral sound with industrial noises, mechanical hums, and other unconventional timbres. They formed the core of his Futurist Orchestra, redefining musical expression through the chaotic sounds of modern life. Most original instruments were lost in a fire during World War II, leaving only descriptions, diagrams, and a few photos.

Thanks to extensive research and reconstruction efforts carried out as part of a project for the Performa Biennial in 2013, modern replicas of the Intonarumori were created, allowing contemporary musicians to experience and expand Russolo’s sonic vision.

The concert marked the 110th anniversary of The Art of Noises manifesto and featured festival commissions by John Hegre, Mariam Gviniashvili, Aleksandra Słyż, and Gerard Lebik, performed by:
Guoste Tamulynaite, Mariam Gviniashvili, Martyna Kosecka, Teoniki Rożynek, Aleksandra Słyż, Martyna Poznańska, Piotr Peszat, Jacek Sotomski, Klaus Holm, John Hegre, Jon Wesseltoft, Mike McCormick, Zosia Hołubowska, Gerard Lebik, Marek Chołoniewski, Jennifer Torrence conducted by Luciano Chessa.

Following the premiere during the Sanatorium of Sound Festival in Sokołowsko, the project was recreated in Oslo (NyMusikk), leading to a studio recording that captures the essence of these works. The resulting LP includes four compositions:

“Rhythm in Flux” – Mariam Gviniashvili
“Music for The Orchestra of Futurist Noise Intoners & Electronics” – Aleksandra Słyż & Gerard Lebik
“The Ill-Tempered Intonarumori” – John Hegre
“Awakening of a City” (1914) – Luigi Russolo

This project brings together historical and contemporary approaches to noise-based composition, continuing the exploration of sound that Russolo began over a century ago.