Sönke Meinen
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Promo Text [PDF] Promo Text [DOC] Pictures 17 MB [ZIP] Posters A2 / A3 PDF [ZIP] Technical Rider [PDF]
With his music, in which he combines virtuoso fingerstyle guitar with influences from jazz, world- and classical music, Sönke Meinen has acquired an outstanding reputation in the international guitar scene.
After the success of his debut album „Perpetuum Mobile“ (2016) and touring Australia, China, Japan, Russia and almost every European country, Sönke Meinen took the next step being not only the performer, but also the composer and producer of his second solo album „Spark“. Leaving traditional musical stereotypes behind, his unconventional and equally fresh and approachable sound has made Sönke Meinen win numerous prizes; in 2016 he collected awards at two of the largest international guitar competitions: the well-respected „Guitar Masters“ (first prize) and the European Guitar Award (sponsoring prize). The Australian guitar wizard Tommy Emmanuel introduced Sönke Meinen to his audience as „one of the most creative guitarists in the scene today“.
Sönke Meinen was born in 1991 and grew up in Ihlow/East Frisia. He studied under Prof. Thomas Fellow, Prof. Stephan Bormann and Reentko Dirks at the College of Music in Dresden, where he started teaching himself in 2019. Sönke Meinen is not only performing in solo concerts, but also together with Danish violin virtuoso Bjarke Falgren. Their highly acclaimed duo debut album „Postcard to Self“ got nominated twice for the Danish Music Awards.
In addition to his musical work as a guitarist and composer, Sönke Meinen initiated the International Freepsum Guitar Festival which annually takes place since 2011.
Bjarke Falgren & Sönke Meinen
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Promo Text [PDF] Promo Text [DOC] Pictures 25 MB [ZIP] Posters A1 / A2 / A3 PDF [ZIP] Technical Rider [PDF]
With a duo repertoire ranging from emotional soundscapes to intoxicating rhythmical pieces, violinist Bjarke Falgren and guitarist Sönke Meinen re-shaped the sound of a violin and guitar duo. In their compositions the two virtuosos blend folk influences with classical music, fingerstyle guitar and a pinch of jazz.
Their highly acclaimed duo debut album “Postcard to Self” got nominated twice for the Danish Music Awards 2019: In the categories „World Music Album of the Year“ and „Composer of the Year“.
Denmark-based Bjarke Falgren tours all around the world and writes and produces music for film and theatre. As well as in the duo with Sönke Meinen, Falgren is also currently active as a solo artist and as a member of various band constellations, e. g. Hot N Spicy, World On A String or the Bjarke Falgren & Paolo Russo Duo. Jazz violin legend Svend Asmussen has enthusiastically designated him as his successor stating: “Bjarke Falgren is the hardest swingin´ fiddler I have heard since Stuff Smith.”
German guitarist Sönke Meinen also performs solo and together with jazz guitarist Philipp Wiechert. He has won numerous prizes, and in 2016 he collected awards at two of the largest international guitar competitions: the well-respected „Guitar Masters“ (first prize) and the European Guitar Award (sponsoring prize). The Australian guitar wizard Tommy Emmanuel introduced Sönke Meinen to his audience as „one of the most creative guitarists in the scene today“.
Falgren and Meinen coax a wide range of different timbres out of their instruments, from warm and tender to powerful and percussive. Their original compositions are sometimes extremely gentle and sometimes highly energetic, but always full of playfulness and emotional intensity.