Artist : Marcus Schmickler
Title : Demos
Genre : Avantgarde
Year : 2006
Date : 01/2007
Bitrate : VBR kbps
Tracks : 03
Label : A-Musik
Source : CDDA
Encoder : Lame 3.97
Length : 40:29 min
Size : 56,7 MB
Tracklist:
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01.0 13:40
02.rache ist des willen widerwillen 03:12
03.demos 23:37
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40:29 min
marcus schmickler's recent release on a-musik is
yet another proof of his stylistic diversity. his music
defies all attempts at categorization. schmickler
appears to be well versed in all musical genres,
having reached a level of perfection which seems
almost unique in these times. sui generis, as they say.
only a short while after his impressive duo improvisation
with john tilbury (variety) and with a new pluramon album
due for release, schmickler will once again convince
critics and audiences. at the same time, this release
reveals yet another aspect of his manifold musical
activities - composing for instrumental ensembles and choirs.
"demos" is schmickler's most ambitious work to date.
premiered in march 2004 in cologne, the piece went on
a triumphal trip through half of europe. among other places,
it has been performed at cracow and the renowned center
for contemporary arts (cca) in glasgow, where it was
performed in the course of a three day festival organized
especially for schmickler. "demos" - which can be heard
on this release in an arrangement for choir, chamber
ensemble and electronic sounds - deals with nietzsche's
thoughts expressed in his "zarathustra" on the extent with
which language could be dealt with (or addressed) as music.
the piece does so on the basis of fragments from the text.
the basis for (t)his philosophy nietzsche perceived in the
expression of the choirs in ancient greek tragedy. marcus
schmickler transcends the classic mythic emblems of
ancient greek choirs such as recitative and declamation
by employing contemporary means. in the overwhelming
power of the choir, "demos" - the greek term for "community"
and commonly used for "people" - lets one sense the energy,
which serves as a metaphor for a people and their ability to
strongly voice their desires, their requests and their demands.
moreover, schmickler's abstract and strepitous electronic
sounds blend in an illustrative way with the text and the
imagination of events portrayed in the dramatic performances
of the choir. thus they become projections of the clamour of
an abstract mass. "demos" is demanding, disturbing and
suggestive in its idiosyncratic blend of sounds. this is a music
which passes on the spirit of such luminaries as the late
gy÷rgy ligeti ("requiem"), jani christou or iannis xenakis
("medea"), but which in schmickler's contemporary attitude
gains a wholly different significance. complementing the
album are two excerpts of schmickler's musical arrangements
for theatre productions. all in all, this is an album which resurrects
traditions as well as pursues the hitherto unheard in a unique way.
in addition to that, it examines in how far constructivist and
post-dramatic approaches can today inspire classic forms
with new structures though the amalgamation of text, music
and performative elements without betraying the qualities
of the originals. by joachim ody
http://a-musik.com