On 29 April, Daníel Bjarnason leads LA Philharmonic New Music Group in the world premiere of his new song cycle Hands on Me. With lyrics by Royce Vavrek, the eight songs span 35 minutes and feature vocalist Mariam Wallentin. 

The new work forms part of the Green Umbrella New Music Series and was commissioned by LA Phil and Crash Ensemble, with generous support from the Lenore S. and Bernard A. Greenberg Fund.

The programme, which has been curated by Bjarnason, features another world premiere by Chaya Czernowin, as well as music by Nico Muhly, Jóhann Jóhannsson, and Kate Soper.

Hands on Me began as four initial songs that were premiered at New Music Dublin in 2020 with Crash Ensemble, Ireland’s leading new music group, and were ​“linked by the theme of snow, inspired by our shared Nordic landscapes and my childhood in northern Alberta, Canada” (Vavrek). The title is derived from a lyrical hook in one of the final songs, evoking both the intimacy and violence present in each piece.