The Pompous Pocket Orchestra

one or more instruments & playback

catinblack ensemble
viola Sofia von Atzingen
cello Ema Grčman
double bass Javad Javadzade

©James Chan-A-Sue
©James Chan-A-Sue

The Pompous Pocket Orchestra is an orchestral piece without an orchestra: It slowly evolves from concert to concert by accumulating fragments of all previous performances in the playback, thereby establishing a dialog with its own past. It is completely open in instrumentation and includes space for each musician to leave their own fingerprint. It decides against an expansive orchestral score and favors a less-is-more approach.

Recordings

Each performance of The Pompous Pocket Orchestra is recorded. Specified sections of all previous recordings become part of the playback, making the orchestra grow over time.

[1]
catinblack ensemble: Sofia von Atzingen (viola), Ema Grčman" (cello), Javad Javadzade (double bass)
Szene 10 in Essen, Germany, 05.12.2025

[3]
M. Zwerschke (flute), A. S. Müller (violin), P. Atalay (piano), J. Evenstad (vibraphone & marimba), E. Papadopoulos (percussion)
University of Music and Dance Cologne, Germany, 07.01.2026

Scores

There are different scores available for different instrumentations. The default score for any ensemble with three or more members is the trio score. Any part of the trio score can be played by any number of musicians. Specialized scores for some instruments are available, which can be played in combination with any of the other scores or as solo versions. I am more than happy to add new score versions for your instrument or ensemble. If you want to join the orchestra, don’t hesitate to reach out!

Performances

  • The Pompous Pocket Orchestra [3]
    University of Music and Dance Cologne, Germany
    performed by P. Atalay, J. Evenstad, A. S. Müller, E. Papadopoulos, M. Zwerschke

  • The Pompous Pocket Orchestra [2]
    Kulturni centar Vojvodine „Miloš Crnjanski”, Novi Sad, Serbia
    Antifestival 2K+
    performed by catinblack ensemble

  • The Pompous Pocket Orchestra [1]
    Szene 10, Essen, Germany
    performed by catinblack ensemble

Simon Bahr

composer

Library Music No. 2: Shanty Chunks for Choppy Seas

ensemble

ensemble

flute Maria Zwerschke
violin Aline S. Müller
trombone Philipp Hayduk
piano Adele Thoma
keyboard Lis Marti
double bass Carlota Ramos
percussion Enyalios Papadopoulos
conductor Carlos Lopes

› watch on YouTube
› download score

Library Music No. 2: Shanty Chunks for Choppy Seas dives into sonic worlds of the Northern German coast and the harbour of Hamburg – or at least into what these are supposed to sound like according to some correspondingly themed library music records.

The Library Music series comprises reimaginations of pieces from old library music records. These consist of music for use in movies or on the radio. The habitat of such music has long shifted to the Internet, leaving the old vinyl records in an unclear intermediate state: Not really dead, as they still physically exist and some vinyl collectors are interested in them, but not really alive either, as they are no longer used for their actual purpose. The series is an attempt to upcycle different kinds of old library music, with the aim of turning it into something new – not limited to the past, but in touch with it.

Performances

  • HfMT Köln, Germany
    master's recital
    performed by P. Hayduk, C. Lopes, L. Marti, A. S. Müller, E. Papadopoulos, C. Ramos, A. Thoma, M. Zwerschke

The Mock-up Pop-up Medley

two keyboards, percussion, drumset

ensemble

4tet Laboratoire
keyboard Lis Marti
keyboard Audrey Mützenberg
percussion Romane Bouffioux
drumset Corentin Barro

› watch on YouTube
› download score

The Mock-up Pop-up Medley is composed of five songs that – to a large extent – don’t exist: I’ve recorded only a tiny section of each, leaving the rest up to our imaginations. These little mock-ups are played back, listened to, reproduced, interrupted, reduced, extended, taken apart, layered, continued, accompanied, re-imagined, re-mixed, went along with, questioned, left unnoticed, outdone and overcome by 4tet Laboratoire. Exciiiting!

Performances

  • Lichtenbergschule (Turnhalle), Darmstadt, Germany
    Darmstadt Summer Course
    performed by 4tet Laboratoire

  • forum neue musik, Lucerne, Switzerland
    performed by 4tet Laboratoire

  • SMC, Lausanne, Switzerland
    performed by 4tet Laboratoire

  • Fonderie Kugler, Geneve, Switzerland
    performed by 4tet Laboratoire

  • Gare du Nord, Basel, Switzerland
    performed by 4tet Laboratoire

  • PROGR, Bern, Switzerland
    performed by 4tet Laboratoire