ORBI - The Oscillating Revenge of the Background Instruments

There are instruments, and then there are instruments… On one hand, you have the violin, trumpet, or lead guitar — firmly planted in the spotlight, while everyone else on stage is reduced to a supporting role. On the other, there’s the bassoon, double bass, drum set, or Hammond organ, providing the harmonic and rhythmic backdrop against which the soloist can shine. But what if the background instruments rebel? What if they strike back?

ORBI — the Oscillating Revenge of the Background Instruments — is the result: four musicians making their bass-heavy instruments howl, growl, and even sing, in a surprising yet cohesive mix of symphonic rock, classical music from Vivaldi to Mahler, thrusting metal, and a touch of blues — 100% instrumental, lead-singer free.

Of this Dutch quartet, Bram (bassoon) and Rick (double bass) both pursue high-profile careers in classical music. Marijn (percussion) is classically trained but also studied in West Africa and India, and is active across multiple musical genres and multimedia projects. Finally, Hammond player Sven Figee performs jazz, pop, and rock in various constellations. Drawing from their favorite playlists and with the help of arranger Marijn van Prooijen, they’ve created a mix of music and sounds that is as weird and wonderful as it is surprising and addictive.

In their search for a creative approach and their passion for alternative musical genres, they present The Age of Greed: a concert in which rock and metal songs sit effortlessly alongside works by Wagner and Mahler. Both late-Romantic music and rock/metal share a deep engagement with ethical and existential questions, and ORBI combines historical drama with contemporary concerns in this powerful program.

The musicians constantly challenge themselves — for example, by imitating virtuosic electric guitar solos on bassoon or double bass. From a Mahler symphony to Radiohead and Muse, this chamber rock band breaks down all musical boundaries.

With their latest CD, ORBI unveils a completely new composition inspired both by the great symphonies of composers like Mahler and Wagner, and by history and music itself.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher ORBI Music