DeutschIncense of Music 57
PANDOMIMA
A multisensory concert – Thursday, 24 October 2024, 8 pm
Damir Bačikin: trumpet
Antonis Anissegos: piano
Incense: Laurel, Kyphi
PANDA Platforma in der Kulturbrauerei, Knaackstr. 97, 10435 Berlin
You are cordially invited to PANDOMIMA with Damir and Antonis, a unique synthesis of contemporary music, modern jazz, and Slavic sounds. Experience melodies that are both memorable and infinite, in an evening filled with diverse musical influences that transcend boundaries. This multisensory event will feature incense burning during the concert, adding laurel and kyphi to the immersive atmosphere, blending the aromatic richness of ancient rituals with the refreshing essence of victory and purification.
For guests who are particularly sensitive to smoke, this event is not recommended.
Artists
Damir Bačikin — trumpet
Damir Bačikin has firmly established himself as a versatile and accomplished trumpet player in Berlin. With a career spanning over 25 years, he captivates audiences with his unique and recognizable sound. Originally from Serbia, Damir is a two-time winner of the Serbian national trumpet competition. In 2005, he moved to Berlin to study under Professor William Forman at the "Hanns Eisler" Institute. Damir has been a prominent figure in the field of new music for over 15 years, collaborating with composers such as Helmut Lachenmann, Vinko Globokar, and György Kurtág. Playing as a member of the ensemble Unitedberlin since 2009, he has performed over 100 concerts under the artistic direction of Vladimir Jurowski. His latest solo debut on Deutschlandradio Kultur in late 2023 received high praise for his rendition of Ligeti's "Mysteries of the Macabre." In spring 2024, Damir won the trumpet audition for the Symphonic Wind Orchestra of the Bundespolizei Berlin.
Antonis Anissegos — piano
Antonis Anissegos, based since 1998 in Berlin, works as a composer, pianist (interpreter/improviser), and electronic musician (alias "unu"). In 2024 he started the trio Air, Bee & Tree, as well as the duo aNo with vocalist Alex Nowitz. His current projects include Trio IAMA, ΣΩΜΑ, and Card Castle. He has collaborated with the Berliner Ensemble, the Neuköllner Oper, and Novoflot, and has been a frequent guest of Ensemble Adapter since 2015. Since 2006 he has performed with butoh dancer Yuko Kaseki as the duo KAYA. He began playing piano at the age of seven, studied at the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, the Ferenc Liszt Academy in Budapest, and composition in Vienna and Cologne, before graduating from the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK). His compositions have been performed by Ensemble Modern and Ensemble Mosaik, among others, and he appears on over 60 recordings mainly in the field of contemporary creative music.
Incense
Bay laurel is an evergreen shrub or small tree native to the Mediterranean, capable of reaching up to ten metres in height. Its glossy, leathery dark-green leaves carry a bold, spicy aroma and contain essential oils with anti-inflammatory properties.
In ancient Greece, laurel was sacred to the god Apollo, and wreaths woven from its branches crowned the victors of athletic and poetic competitions — a tradition that still echoes today in the word "baccalaureate" (literally, "laurel berry"). In the Bible, laurel is often an emblem of prosperity and fame, and in Christian tradition it symbolizes the resurrection of Christ.
Burned as incense, laurel gives off a warm, spicy-resinous scent with a faint, sweet sharpness. The dried leaves are traditionally burned to energetically clear a space and create a focused, ceremonial atmosphere — a scent associated with clarity and a certain sense of dignity.
Kyphi is not a single plant but an ancient Egyptian incense blend made from numerous aromatic ingredients — resins such as myrrh and frankincense, various herbs, spices, and oils, sometimes wine, honey, and floral elements. The mixture was prepared as a paste and shaped into cones or sticks.
Kyphi was burned in ancient Egyptian temples during religious ceremonies and was considered purifying and sacred — a scent meant to forge a connection between the senses and the divine. Its exact composition varied over the centuries and across regions, but the incense remained a fixture of both temple worship and daily life, valued for its pleasing aroma and its perceived health benefits.
Burned, kyphi releases a rich, complex aroma — at once sweet and earthy, evoking a sense of calm and spiritual elevation. To this day, kyphi stands as a symbol of ancient Egyptian spirituality and the close bond between scent, meditation, and healing.