Simone Keller

Begründung der Jury

★★
Switzerland /// Schweiz
★★

Simone Keller highlights the often-overlooked brilliance of women and minority composers in particular, composers whose contributions to music history have been largely ignored and who have faced marginalisation due to their gender, race or disability. The metaphor of “hidden heartache” serves as a lens through which to explore issues of social inequality and unequal power relations – much as X-rays attempt to explore hidden pain – looking closer inside, adding different contrast agents to get a clearer picture.

Striking a careful balance between tradition and innovation, the book’s graphic design offers a timeless feel yet challenges conventions – an approach that chimes perfectly with the serious and sensitive subject matter. The typography, spacing and overall structure are expertly chosen to complement the emotional weight of the content, creating a visually cohesive and powerful experience for the reader. The unconventional use of typography lends a dynamic structure to the pages, with a type area whose format calls to mind an enlarged CD booklet. Further underlining its strong concept, Hidden Heartache is accompanied by an audio CD that features 100 minutes of piano music from the past 100 years and comes with a meticulously designed booklet of its own. All this adds up to a genuinely moving and compelling work, one whose narrative the reader connects with in a deeply personal way.