“Aki Rissanen: Omniwerk”

“Aki Rissanen: Omniwerk” is a concert experience that bridges the worlds of art, science, and music in the spirit of the Renaissance rock star Leonardo da Vinci. This interdisciplinary project explores da Vinci’s hidden musical legacy through newly composed works performed on a reconstructed historical instrument, the groundbreaking Omniwerk.

While none of da Vinci’s compositions survive in standard notation, melodic fragments and rhythmic puzzles appear as marginalia in his Codex Atlanticus and even in his Last Supper. These fragments provide the foundation for new compositions that translate da Vinci’s visual and mathematical ideas into sound evoking the Renaissance and Baroque eras while embracing minimalism and abstract modern textures. The intricate and bold music also includes interpretations of Renaissance compositions by Carlo Gesualdo and Josquin des Prez, creating a dialogue between the past and the present.  Renaissance techno for the 21st century?

At the heart of the project is the Omniwerk, a unique instrument designed by Finnish builders Jukka Ollikka and Jonte Knif. It combines two historic keyboard instruments: the Geigenwerk (or Viola Organista, originally conceived by Leonardo) and the Lautenwerk, a Baroque-era keyboard lute favoured by J.S. Bach. The Omniwerk features two manuals—one for each “werk”—that can be played simultaneously. A remarkable range of sounds is created by the combination of the two manuals and an ingenious system of bands that allow the instrument to either bow or pluck the strings. As a result, it can evoke the sonority of a harpsichord, a bowed string orchestra, a hurdy-gurdy, or even a harp.

Finnish pianist Aki Rissanen, a versatile musician known for blending classical precision with jazz improvisation, is the composer and performer in this project. With 15 acclaimed albums and awards from solo piano competitions at the Montreux Jazz Festival and La Défense, Rissanen’s unique background informs his approach to the Omniwerk.

This project seeks to illuminate da Vinci’s musical mind—an often overlooked aspect of his genius—and to reimagine his interdisciplinary legacy in a modern context. It highlights the creative intersections between historical research, performance, and composition. In doing so, it offers a deeply original musical experience rooted in European artistic heritage, while opening pathways for future explorations in genre fusion and instrument innovation.

With da Vinci’s enduring popularity and the rare presentation of his musical ideas through the Omniwerk, this project has the potential to attract diverse audiences—from classical and jazz listeners to those fascinated by history and invention. It embodies the spirit of the Renaissance in a contemporary artistic form, celebrating the idea that creativity thrives where disciplines meet.