A beautifully presented disc, with liner notes in German and English,
the premise for this CD is a journey across the Alps, with the
music that passes through the mind while walking. Beautifully
prefaced by a text by endurance athlete and writer Martin Prinz,
the works are performed here by the excellent Ensemble Intégrales.
Wolfram Schurig’s A.R.C.H.E. give the disc an explosive
opening, with complex harmonies and chaotic rhythms alternating
with expressive lyricism to create a highly convincing work
for tenor saxophone, piano and percussion. The piano links
well between the melodic lines of the saxophone and the characteristic
attack of the percussion, and the instruments are carefully
balanced throughout. Varied textures make maximum use of the
instrumental forces and the silence, and the ending of the
work is particularly haunting.
Weiten und male by Wolfgang Suppan uses
the unusual instrumental combination of tenor voice, violin,
gamepad and live electronics, with a setting of a text by
Christine Huber. A fascinating and atmospheric piece, the
live sounds are processed and accompanied by electronics which
provide a further dimension to this collage. With a somewhat
pointillistic texture and effective use of stereo mixing,
this is music which demands attention. I found some moments
more convincing than others; the whispering was particularly
effective, as was the use of the live violin and pre-recorded
voice. However, some of the repetitions continued too long
to maintain my interest, and some of the twanging sounds became
irritating after a while. This is, however, a fascinating
piece, which enters an unusual sound-world, and is well worth
exploring.
From the opening bars, Karlheinz Essl’s more
or less has an intoxicating effect. The computer-generated
sounds are highly effective, and the introduction of the live
instruments (violin, saxophone, piano and percussion) adds
colour to the sound. The percussion and piano writing in particular
holds a hint of jazz at times, with a sense of improvisational
freedom. The second movement opens with energetic saxophone
murmurings which could be easily mistaken for a human voice,
joined quickly by the rest of the ensemble to create an intense
burst of power. The frenetic movement gradually calms and
allows us to explore the inside of the sound as the effects
are slowed down.
AMPLIFY by Christof Dienz has
a lighter feel but is equally enjoyable. Repeated phrases
build to provide emerging textures and drones are constructed,
giving a sense of constantly building tension and release
as the lines are moved between instruments. Momentum builds
and dissipates as the music moves through a range of stylistic
influences. This is an effective piece which captures the
imagination.
The final track on the disc is a dramatic song
which sets texts in German and in English. King’s message
by Bernhard Gander is a complex work which hits the
listener between the eyes. The aggressive energy of the work
is spectacular, with Gander creating a wonderfully satisfying
musical language which is bursting with colours, textures
and pulsations. The text is similarly frenetic, with a sprechgesang-style
setting which is highly effective.
Ensemble Intégrales proves itself in this recording
as one of the leading contemporary music ensembles. Their playing
is constantly impressive and technically assured in music full
of complexities and challenges, and they help to make this music
accessible to the listener through their presentation and approach.
Carla Rees
