Boulez: Sur Incises; Messagesquisse; Anthemes 2 Jean-Guihen Queyras, cello/Hae-Sun Kang, violin/ Ensemble Interconemporain/Pierre Boulez (Deutsche Grammophon 289 463 475-2).Boulez: Sur Incises; Messagesquisse; Anthemes 2 Jean-Guihen Queyras Jean-Guihen Queyras is a French cellist. He has recorded Haydn's and Monn's cello concertos on a period instrument together with the Freiburger Barockorchester. His repertoire also encompasses more recent works, which he performs internationally: he gave the world premieres , cello/Hae-Sun Kang, violin/ Ensemble Interconemporain/Pierre Boulez (Deutsche Grammophon Deutsche Grammophon is a German classical record label. The company has long been known for its high standards of audio fidelity. The Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft 289 463 475-2) Those with no interest at all in contemporary music can skip to the next review. Those who are still with me are probably aware that although Pierre Boulez is probably most well known these days as a conductor, he is also a composer of considerable but controversial reputation. The music on this CD is not easy listening music, but it is not so forbidding that listeners should be afraid to give it a try. Sur Incises is a fascinating work for three pianos, three harps, vibraphone vibraphone or vibraharp Percussion instrument with tuned metal bars, arranged keyboard-style like the xylophone. Felt or wool beaters are used to strike the bars, giving a soft, mellow tone quality. , marimba marimba: see xylophone. marimba Xylophone with resonators under each bar. The original African instrument uses tuned calabash resonators. In Mexico and Central America, where it was brought by African slaves, the wooden bars may be affixed to a , and steel drums (not the little pan drums played in the islands, but honest-to-goodness steel drums). What is especially interesting about it is how it sounds essentially like a piece for one big piano rather than an ensemble piece, with all the instruments being played "pianistically." It's a long way from Chopin, but it has its own brand of whimsy whim·sy also whim·sey n. pl. whim·sies also whim·seys 1. An odd or fanciful idea; a whim. 2. A quaint or fanciful quality: stories full of whimsy. . Messagesquisse is scored for solo cello and six cellos. Short phrases get tossed back and forth, with the instruments seeming to be sneaking up on each other, musically speaking. The final piece on this CD, Anthemes 2, features a solo violin playing along with electronic manipulations of its own sounds. The resulting sounds are, as you might imagine, strange, other-worldly, but certainly interesting to hear. Not only is the sound of the violin itself manipulated, but also the sonic space (the "soundstage," to use that old audiophile An individual who is very interested and enthusiastic about the sound quality of a stereo or home theater system. Quality audio components are designed to reproduce the audio without adding any distortion or coloration. term). I would be quite interested to hear what this would sound like on a surround-sound setup (no, I still have not set one up, as I am still waiting for some kind of standard to emerge, not to mention some hope of a decent musical catalog.) Although my descriptions of this music may make it sound quite daunting daunt tr.v. daunt·ed, daunt·ing, daunts To abate the courage of; discourage. See Synonyms at dismay. [Middle English daunten, from Old French danter, from Latin , those with some sense of musical adventure might want to give this CD a try. It may not be something you will find yourself playing over and over again, but I believe you will find it interesting and rewarding. --KWN |
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