The celebrated pianist Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa discusses the new short film Klavierklang (directed by Nettie Wild, and written by Hildegard Westerkamp) having its debut as part of Music on Main’s Modulus Festival, 07 November 2025, with Joseph Planta.
Text of the introduction by Joseph Planta:
I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.
Music on Main’s Modulus Festival is on later this week, 07-10 November 2025. The biennial celebration of new and experimental music has many highlights including Klavierklang, a film directed by Nettie Wild, of a cinematic tone poem written by Hildegard Westerkamp, and performed by Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa. Rachel joins me now to talk about this piece that blends piano performance, spoken text, and environmental soundscapes that illustrate the piano, and the complex relationships that its players have. A lot of Westerkamp’s experiences, as well as Iwaasa’s contribute to the piece, as you’ll hear Rachel shortly describe the process that went into the writing of the text she performs in the film. For example, learning music at a high level can be difficult, and the structure around learning it can often be rigid. It’s a visually stunning piece, and the craftsmanship of piano, the wood, the wires, and the sounds that emanate from it are presented reverentially as well as in admiration of the instrument itself. Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa is recognised as one of Canada’s foremost contemporary pianists. She is also an interdisciplinary artist. Visit www.iwaasa.com for more. Unfortunately, tickets to the opening night concert of Modulus Festival on Friday night, November 7th are already sold out. However, check with the Music on Main office in case there are cancellations. Their website is at www.musiconmain.ca. I recorded this interview with Rachel a couple of weeks ago. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa; Ms. Iwaasa, good morning.
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