Jürg Frey & Magnus Granberg — Early To Late
This CD release appears on the always worthy Another Timbre label and features the labels trademark minimal white gatefold packaging- which for this release features an eerier monochrome picture of a line of houses. Both pieces here are from last year and both where special commission by Another Timbre.
Both of the works are played by Ensemble Grizzana-an 11 piece ensemble, that finds both the composes as players. The group is made up of Jürg Frey - Clarinet. Philip Thomas- piano. Mira Benjamin & Angharad Davis- both on Volin. Anton Lukoszevieze-Cello. Dominic Lash- Double Bass. Magnus Granberg- Celesta( track one), Harmonica & Stones (track two). Simon Allen- Dulcimer & glass harp( track one), Dulcimer( track two). Richard Craig- alto flute & electronics( track one), Flute (track two). John Lely- Electrioncs( track one) harmonica & stones( track two). And Dimitra Lazaridou- Chatzigoga- Zeither & electronics( track one).
First up we have Magnus Granberg’s “How Vain Are All Our Frail Delights”- and this comes in at just shy of the forty two minute mark. The work is a gently unfurling & cautiously building, then reseeding haze of acoustic & electronic textures. These are set to either a wavering simmer, sour drone, or an unbalancing like hover. Though there are ten players on this track in never feels over grounded or muddled in its haunting web of sound, as ever players move is considered & careful. So it builds both a compelling eerier atmosphere and worthy textural detail/ interplay. The lulling-yet highly compelling sound weave on display here moves from slowly shifting forests of delicate string simmer & angular ornateness, through to gently drifting hazes & whirls of piano, Celesta, and dulcimer notation. Onto subtle yet at times more pressing rises of flute flurries, and simmering sinister elector texturing. Truly it's a spellbinding work, which captures you with sad mystery from the very start, then holds you there for the remaining forty plus minute playtime.
Next, we have the Jürg Frey piece, this thirty-four minute track is entitled “Late Silence”, and where the first track had a constant hazy flow to it- this piece relies on moody spacing, and a fairly episodic unfold. The track begins with a gloomily consider blend of stark-yet-sadly harmonic piano wonders, and lonesome buzzing–to-hovering dulcimer & string dwells- all creating a feeling of slow & melancholic awakening. As the track progresses we move from crawling-yet-sadly grand string climbs, which are undercut by slurred maps of alien-like scrapping (from the stones I’m guessing). Onto fraught, simmering & wonkily felt blends of harmonica & dulcimer, that are underfed by occasional darts of piano emotion. Through to shifts between pared-back stark piano notation, and sadly simmering & slurred harmonica drifts. Again it's another wholly captivating piece.
Early To Late presents two equally haunting & creative works. With each highlighting both the distinctive sonic identity of each composer work, and the masterful blend of both emotional depth & control from the Ensemble Grizzana. Both of these pieces are going to be played again shortly at the Music We'd Like to Hear Concert- on 23rd of March. For more info on this head over here