zeitkratzer [old school] Alvin Lucier
zkr0011 zeitkratzer records, Barcode: 4250137238937, CD, 8-page-booklet, duration: 44:01
all music by Alvin Lucier performed by zeitkratzer & Alvin Lucier
distributed by BROKEN SILENCE [UK: Shellshock, US: Forced Exposure, F: Metamkine, JAP: Disk Union]
zeitkratzer directed by Reinhold Friedl
Burkhard Schlothauer < violin, viola, objects || Anton Lukoszevieze < violoncello, objects || Uli Phillipp < objects || Reinhold Friedl < piano, objects || Maurice de Martin < triangle, objects || Frank Gratkowski < objects || Hayden Chisholm < objects|| Matt Davis < objects || Hilary Jeffery < objects || Ralf Meinz < sound ||
[1-5] recorded live at Philharmonie Luxembourg, Luxembourg, October 3, 2009, [4] recorded at GreenHouseStudios Schwielowsee, Germany, June 4, 2010
recorded and mixed by Ralf Meinz
This is the third release in the series [old school]. The first two CDs, dedicated to the music of John Cage [zkr0009] and James Tenney [zkr0010] have been highly acclaimed. London’s Wire Magazine wrote: “The rigour and discipline they collectively bring to this compositions make both discs utterly enthralling, from start to finish.”
Alvin Lucier is one of the most outstanding American minimalists. He could be called a sound physician and his compositions regarded as acoustic research settings. Often his pieces turn inside-out the inner properties of the room they are played in and the instrument that they are played on. zeitkratzer had the chance to work with the composer in Dijon, France in 2008, and continued to work on and to program his music in different places. The Philharmonie in Luxembourg turned out to be the ideal space for recording.
On this CD you can hear how Lucier enables zeitkratzer to create sounds, most people have never heard before. Ringing overtones, a singing piano, a thrilling concert triangle, pencils on little objects, and how irritating a violoncello, a viola and a piano can sound together creating sonic interferences. This music is not only a physical phenomenology, but becomes inherently a sensual listening experience.
Reviews
The richness of Lucier’s music has rarely been so eloquently expressed!
The Wire Magazine, UK, 12/2010
Schorsch, mei Dropfe! entfährt es da der baffen Fränkin.
Bad Alchemy, 10/2010
Old School is a series of works performed by Zeitkratzer Records dealing with one composer, although they are not always 'old' (as in 'still alive'). Following James Tenney and John Cage (see Vital Weekly 724), the ten piece ensemble performs here works by Alvin Lucier, another particular hero of mine. Lucier doesn't just compose pieces of music, he explores sound, and the way they move around in space. Zeitkratzer keeps to the scores, most of the times, such as in 'Silver Streetcar For The Orchestra', in which the triangle plays an important role or in 'Opera With Objects', where the orchestra plays with small objects indeed. These are the compositions by Lucier which are 'free' in a way: a set of instructions to be performed and Zeitkratzer is, as we know, good at that. The more fixed pieces here, 'Violynn' and 'Fideliotrio' (which I must admit have never heard performed anywhere else) seem to be following the score more careful, i.e. playing the right notes at the right time. Zeitkratzer does an absolute great job at that. Lucier's originals are expanded here into small ensemble pieces and each instrument gets his own place in the composition. Five excellent executions thereof. Old master pieces.
Vital Weekly, Frans de Waard, 11/2010
Parfois amusantes, mystifiantes à leur meilleur, souvent lancinantes, voire agaçantes, les ouvres de Lucier pardonnent rarement. Et Zeitkratzer ne fait pas de cadeaux: les cinq pièces retenues pour ce disque sont difficiles à l'écoute mais pertinentes. Une réalisation convaincante.
Monsieurdelire, Frankreich, 11/2010
Funny, mystifying at their best, often languid, irritating even, Lucier's works take no prisoners. And Zeitkratzer aren't sugar-coating it - the five works selected for this release are a difficult though relevant listen. A convincing production”
Monsieurdelire, Frankreich, 11/2010
„un luxueux aréopage de sons fabuleux!“
„eine prunkvolle Versammlung fabelhafter Klänge!“
Le Son du Grisli, Frankreich, 11/2010
„eine narrativ verzahnte Sache, die auch für Nichtakademiker einen gediegen einfachen Einstieg in das Werk Lucier's bildet. … Die dargebotene Qualität ist auf höchstem Niveau, die Umsetzungen mehr als überzeugend. Obskurika wie das Werk »Silver Streetcar For The Orchestra« für eine verstärkte Triangel oder »Opera With Objects« für resonant vibrierende Objekte auf einem Tisch zeugen von einer humorvollen Annäherung an Ernste Musik, sowie einer geradezu seriösen Unterweisung in Jahrhundertthemen wie minimale Musik und die traditionelle Arbeit mit Score-Anweisungen. Hut ab. 5/5“
AEmag, Wien, 11/2010
„una delle migliori mai incise dall’ensemble“
„eine der besten Aufnahmen des Ensembles“
Blow-Up, Italien, 11/2010
„Forderne Ruhe!“
Sonic Seducer, 11/2010
„eine Meisterleistung“
Skug, Austria, 1/2011