Theremin – Saxophone – Soma Pipe Electronic Wind Instrument – Aerophone – Composer – Producer – Electronics
… convinces with great composition and sound, one of the most fascinating duos of recent years. It is hard to escape the hypnotic charm of the music, which is both structured and complex. Highly recommended!
… an album as brilliant as the stars in the sky, Membran Music takes ‘Polaris‘ as its theme. The instrumental cosmos, with Theremin, piano, soprano saxophone and live electronics moves from classical music to progressive jazz, but at the same time always retaining its dark colouring. It is unique in the same way as ABOUT APHRODITE!
… What Hans and Gilda achieve in this album can only be called an immersive audio experience. Out of melancholy undertones springs music full of tonal fantasy and lyrical depth, and behind the duo’s conscious and animated musical freedom lies a wealth of in-depth knowledge and experience”
… she plays the theremin perfectl … It makes for an alluring and innovative set that manages to avoid many of the clichéd pitfalls that limit most theremin music.
The German duo About Aphrodite, however, utilize the eerie – sounding instrument to craft quite lovely and evocative soundscapes in their mashups of jazz with classical and electronic music forms. About Aphrodite create atmospheric works that are simultaneously nostalgic and of-the-moment, evincing the melancholy of faded glory. Razani theremin sing and soars, the instrument’s tones mimicking the human voice – and at times, a string instrument!
BIOGRAPHY
Gilda Razani is one of the few professional theremin players. She is part of vocal group the Manhattan Transfer’s Grammy-nominated new recording ‚Fifty‘.
Aside from her classical playing style, she goes in her compositions and improvisations to the contemporary boarders of her instrument. With electronic effects, she generates contemporary E-Guitar-like sounds in brute hard-rock aesthetics next to ecstatic Sinus sound creations, spherical choirs and tenderest noise minimalisms.
Gilda has a master’s degree in Saxophone.
Collaboration
She has worked among others with
Classical Conductors
Karl Heinz Stockhausen, Marc Johnson, Reinhard Seehafer
Orchestras
WDR Funkhausorchestra Cologne, Staatskapelle Weimar, Duisburger Symphony Orchestra, Opera Baden- Baden, Theatre Dortmund
Bands
Aphrodites Soul Experience, Manhattan Transfer, About Aphrodite, The Dorf, Helmut Zerlett Band, Sub.vision, Transorient Orchestra
And
Trilok Gurtu, Hans Wanning, Paul Wallfish, Max Raabe, Helmut Schmidt
Classical
2021 Gilda made theremin recordings with Manhattan Transfer and the WDR Funkhausorchestra, arranged by Vince Mendoza. 2020 she played the theremin part of the world premiere ‚Selma‘ with the Staatskapelle Weimar at the Altmark Festspiele, composed and directed by Reinhard Seehafer. 2019 with conductor Marc Johnson, Gilda played the virtous theremin part in the opera Mozart „La finta giardiniera“, at the Baden- Baden Theatre. She had the honor to be part of the work „Sternenklang“, composed and directed by Karl – Heinz Stockhausen.
Gilda played with saxophone and flute the Threepenny Opera at the Dortmund Theatre with Paul Wallfisch.
Festivals and Tours
Gilda has performed at many festivals arround the world among other things at the Leverkusener Jazzdays Germany, Jazzkaarfestival Estonia, Juicy beats Germany, Jazz Province Festival Russia, Afterhills Festival Romania, Spirit of the Woodstockfestival Italia, Donne in Musica Italia, Fusionfestival Germany, Les Digitales Suisse, Skandaloes Festival Germany, Klangtherapie Festival Germany, Tropen Tango Festival Germany. Zurück zu den Wurzeln Festival Germany, Moers Festival Germany, European Women’ s Jazz Festival Italy, Jazzfestival Groningen Netherlands, Klarafestival Bruxelles Belgium, Altmark Festspiele. Also she toured with her bands through many countries.
Compositions and Productions
Gilda is a composer and producer.
All recordings with her bands Sub,vison and About Aphrodite are their own compositions and productions in collaboration with her long standing companion Hans Wanning including
* Duo live, Munichrecords 2002
* Bazaar, Traumtonrecords 2005
* Remembrance, Timelinerecords 2009
* Nashira, ESC Records 2012
* Ocean Lily, Aztek Electronic Music 2014
* Factor X, Aztek Electronic Music 2015
* Polaris, Floating World Records 2018
* Future Memories, Floating World Records 2020
Filmmusic
Gilda Razani and Hans Wanning are working for German television.
They have composed and produced numerous film scores and radioplays for the WDR (West German Broadcasting, Cologne)
* #weltuntergang: Der Sommer, der ins Wasser fiel , 2015
* #jesuischarlie: Ein Hashtag und die Folgen , 2015
* #fluechtlinge – was sind wir für ein Land , 2016
* #germanwings – die Katastrophe. Rückblick und Gedenken , 2016
* #land_unter-Der Unwetter-Sommer 2016
* #monsterstau – Stillstand ist unser Leben! 2016
* #koelnhbf , 2016
* schrecklichschön: weihnachten, 2016
* schrecklichschön: geschenke, geschenke ,2016
* Die schönsten Mausmomente , 2017
* Die Wunde meiner Stadt – Asli, Duisburg und die Loveparade, 2018
* #jahrhundertsommer – Sonne satt und Schattenseiten, 2018
* #KlimaAlarm: Sind wir noch zu retten?, 2021
Radioplay
* Mit Volldampf durch die Wüste, WDR Kiraka, 2018, nominated for the german radioplayprice 2018
* Anne und die Bankräuber, WDR Kiraka 2019
* Der Weihnachtsmann – Auflauf, WDR Kiraka 2020
* Marie Ka Ih Schluß mit Gurkensalat, WDR Kiraka 2021
Arrangements
* About Aphrodite’s recording Polaris arranged for String Quartett and their band, 2019
* Gilda has composed and arranged many songs for the music and comedy show Geierabend.
Awards
*2020 WDR Jazzpreis The Dorf und Umland
* 2019 tour winner of the „Theremin Star Contest“, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the theremin from Theremin Today, Russia.
* 2016 DFJP Award (German French Journalism Prize) for the Film #jesuischarlie: ein Hashtag und seine Folgen, directed by Christian Dassel andClemens Gersch.
*2013 Jazzprice Ruhr with The Dorf
Lectureship
Since 2013 she has been lecturer for saxophone and theremin at the University of Dortmund.
PROJECTS
Matab
Gilda Razani and Hans Wanning play their own compositions for theremin, saxophone, piano and synthesizer
My ThereminOrchestra
My Theremin Orchestra is Gilda’s solo project. She perform with her Theremin, Somasynthpipe and her Electronics.
About Aphrodite
www.aboutaphrodite.de
Soundartist/ Cinematic Theremin Sound/ Hypnotic Grooves and Drones/ Dance/ Rock/ World/ Electronica/ Composer/ Producer/ Soundbranding
The works of the german based duo range from concerts, film music scores, radioplays ,sound branding and audio visual installations to dance live sets.
Projects of About Aphrodite
Shirin Again
Gilda Razani theremin/ saxophone/ soma pipe electronic wind intrument
Hanzō Wanning piano/ synthesizer/ electronics
Mario Simon visuals
Shirin Again is a musical epic through the world’s great symphony with station Iran.
With thrilling beats, unusual sounds, touching moments and magical video installations, the artists Gilda Razani, Hanzō Wanning and Mario Simon take you on a euphoric and energetic sound journey and the sky is deep dark heavy and sweet!
Future Memories
Gilda Razani
theremin / soma pipe electronic wind instrument / aerophone
Hanzō Wanning
piano / synthesizers / electronics
Jaime Moraga Vasquez
drums / percussion / voice
The musicians with Gilda on her theremin, her effects and the electronic wind instrument Soma Pipe play the terrific combination of rock/ dance/ world and electronica with devotion.
With cineastic soundscapes, hypnotic drones, gentle athmospheres and thrilling beats , Aphrodites Soul Experience go on a euphoric and energetic sound journey, inspired by the great symphony of the world and the sky is deep, dark, heavy and sweet!
Recording ‚Future Memories ‚ released 2020 by Floating World Records/ London
Treibjagd
Gilda Razani theremin/ saxophone/ soma pipe electronic wind intrument
Hanzō Wanning piano/ synthesizer/ electronics
Analog sounds made in the moment, hypnotic drones and melodies are driven through the great symphony of the world by thrilling deep dance rhythms. The artists Gilda Razani and Hanzō Wanning take you on a euphoric and energetic sound journey with their liveset and the sky is deep, dark, heavy and sweet!
Recordings ‚Ocean Lily‘ 2014 and ‚Faktor X‘ 2015, released by Aztek Electronic Music, Melbourne/AUS.