Thélème brings together John Dowland, John Cage and Sting for its album All we get is life With All we get is life, to be released on 22.11.2024 by Aparté, Thélème brings together two composers almost 400 years apart: John Dowland, with his Second Booke of Songs or Ayres, and John Cage, whose Song Books marked the end of the twentieth century. As a special guest on the album, 17-time Grammy Award winning artist Sting offers a new version of his hit song, “Shape of My Heart “ arranged by Jean-Christophe Groffe and Nikki Buzzi.

Thélème's new album, All we get is life, features two composers almost 400 years apart: the English composer John Dowland (1563-1626) and the American John Cage (1912-1992).

In this programme, the compositions of the two musicians enter into a dialogue. Taken from John Dowland's Second Booke of Songs or Ayres, Thélème records here the complete works for two voices and lute, which are interwoven with large
excerpts from John Cage's Song Books. Enhanced by a viol consort and a modular synthesiser, Thélème also presents personal explorations of various works by the American composer and poet, developing an unexpected soundscape.

In addition to a certain sobriety of expression, both works are concise in form, intimate in execution and, above all, a delight in words.

"The former (Dowland) offers a sort of very delicate threeway conversation; the latter (Cage) is the result of a work of concentration intended to reduce music to its essential elements, among which silence also has its rightful place", in the words of Jean-Christophe Groffe, founder of Thélème.

A true sound experience is offered here by an ensemble always keen to add modern touches to its interpretation, between impertinence, humor and delicacy. Already on their previous album Baisiez moy (Aparté, 2021 - Gramophone Award Winner (Early music) 2022), Thélème didn't hesitate to use Fender Rhodes on pieces by early music composer Josquin Desprez.

In All we get is life, synthesizer and vocal transformations meet the lute, and electronics effects immerse the listener in a minimalist aesthetic. Around this album, Thélème has also developed a complete universe combining music, photography, film and performance with its own singular language. Inspired by the indications given by John Cage in his Song Books, the album cover is the result of a collaboration between Jean-Christophe Groffe, photographer Benjamin Hénon and stylist Valentine Mazel.

As the albums’ special guest and an enthusiast of John Dowland, from whom he drew imspiration for his 2006 album Songs from the Labyrinth , Sting delivers with Thélème an intimate and cosmic version of his timeless ballad “Shape of My Heart.” He‘s also featured in Dowland's Flow my tears video (created by Le Jardin des solutions).

ENSEMBLE THÉLÈME

Founded in 2013, Thélème brings together musicians who offer an open and original interpretation of early music. Around its foundation of voice and lute, the ensemble includes instruments from different periods – viola da gamba, saxophone, ondes Martenot, modular synthesizer – and works with authors, actors, dancers, choreographers, and other creative minds. Thélème thus explores a shifting musical territory, aiming to invent a coherent language and to offer new listening perspectives, the opposite of the museal.