John Beswick

The ethos behind Ensemble Erik

Ensemble Erik takes its name from the iconoclastic French composer Erik Satie, a singular figure in the history of Western music known for his refreshingly unorthodox approach to composition. Satie broke away from the grandiose Romantic traditions of his time, instead favoring simplicity, clarity, and a touch of the absurd—qualities that would later resonate deeply with the avant-garde. His music, often sparse and enigmatic, anticipated many of the aesthetic principles that came to define 20th-century experimentalism. Satie's influence loomed large over a generation of American composers, most notably John Cage, who admired his wit, eccentricity, and philosophical approach to sound and silence. In light of this legacy, it is particularly fitting that Ensemble Erik's inaugural performances should spotlight the work of Philip Glass—one of the most prominent figures in contemporary minimalism and a composer whose meditative structures and tonal innovations reflect a lineage traceable, in part, to Satie’s groundbreaking vision.

First Project - Glassworks and The Windcatcher

September concerts in Hackney and Manchester

Every venture begins with a first step, and for Ensemble Erik, that step takes the form of two luminous works by the iconic American composer Philip Glass. Our inaugural performances will feature Glassworks—a gateway into Glass’s distinctive minimalist sound—and The Windcatcher, a work that breathes with quiet intensity and grace. Join us on 23rd September 2025 at the atmospheric Hackney Church, London, or on 25th September at the acoustically rich Stoller Hall in Manchester, as we launch our journey with music that invites deep listening and reflection. Philip Glass’s music, with its hypnotic repetitions and subtle evolutions, creates a soundscape akin to musical mindfulness—a serene refuge amidst the noise of modern life. To honour this contemplative quality and offer audiences a moment of focused stillness, we have chosen to keep each concert to a perfectly distilled hour: long enough to transport, brief enough to leave you wanting more.

John Beswick Conductor

Ensemble Erik

The ethos behind Ensemble Erik

First Project - Glassworks and The Windcatcher

September concerts in Hackney and Manchester

Ensemble Musicians (for Glassworks/The Windcatcher)

John Beswick Conductor

Ensemble Erik

The ethos behind Ensemble Erik

First Project - Glassworks and The Windcatcher

September concerts in Hackney and Manchester

Ensemble Musicians (for Glassworks/The Windcatcher)

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