Donaueschinger Musiktage 2009 - Vol. 1

SALVATORE SCIARRINO (b.1947): Libro notturno delle voci for Flute and Orchestra (Mario Caroli [flute]),  BEAT FURRER (b.1954): Apon for Orchestra and Speaking Voice (Helmut Vogel [speaker]), JIMMY LÓPEZ (b.1978): Incubus III for Clarinet, Percussion and Live Electronics (Carl Rosman [clarinet], Dirk Rothburst [percussion], Soloists of musikFabrik, Experimental Studio of SWR).

Description: As usual, Sciarrino makes music that creates the impression of sounding almost literally like sounds of nature, rather than music in the conventional sense. Of course, it doesn't really, but his exquisite sense of the timbral possibilities of instruments, and the fearlessness with which he consistently asks unheard-of playing techniques from his performers, seem to liberate his musical visions from the confines of the concert hall. The flute soloist is given material of ferocious virtuosity, much of it involving extravagantly extended techniques. Furrer's Apon literally incorporates a text by Händl Klaus into the textures of orchestral sounds, the composer having based the instrumental accompaniment on harmonic analysis of each spoken syllable. Little by little the orchestral component spreads into the gaps between spoken fragments, like a composed reverberation. The second half of the work omits the actual voice, the orchestra expanding upon the implied vocalizations in resonant, colorful phrases (which interestingly, not infrequently resemble Messaienic harmonies and rhythms). López' piece uses a poem by Paul Williams (reproduced in the booklet) depicting the dark and sinister desires of the Incubus. The two performers are required to vocalise and perform various audible actions in addition to a wide array of extended playing on their instruments, while the electronics multiply and transform the sounds. SWR Symphony Orchestra Baden-Baden and Freiburg; Beat Furrer. SACD hybrid.