Samuel Reinhard — For 10 Musicians

For 10 Musicians is a modern ensemble suite, at its most stark and spare. The four-track work is built around spaced piano notation, with which the wind and string instruments are sometimes connected. It creates a work that is more about mood/ presence, and less about melody/ structure- though those do sometimes occur.

Samuel Reinhard is a Swiss composer who has been actively releasing material since the early 2020s. His work takes its focus from minimalist and aleatoric tenets, with an emphasis on both repetition and extended duration.

This release appeared on Elsewhere Music last year in the form of a CD release. The disc is presented in a fittingly minimal mini gatefold- featured on it’s outside is a barely there/ faint set of lines/ blocks, and inside we find sparse black text on a plain white backdrop.

The players here are Paul Jacob Fossum — piano, Gintė Preisaitė — piano, Anders Banke — bass clarinet, Francesco Bigoni — clarinet, Henriette Groth — clarinet, Carolyn Goodwin — bass clarinet, Nicole Hogstrand — cello, Pauline Hogstrand — viola, Mika Persdotter — viola, and Vincent Yuen Ruiz — double bass.

Each of the four tracks runs at around the twelve and a half minute mark. The pace/ flow of each is very spaced, sparse, and minimal. Paino notion is left to drift & delicately plan out its stark patterns. Then the other players will mimic one of said notes/ patterns- maybe holding it, or letting it drift away.

To get the most out of what is on offer here, you have to approach  For 10 Musicians with an open mind/ little or no expectations, and just drift along with its fragile, yet at times lulling, lush unfold.

This was my first taster of Mr Reinhard’s work, and it most certainly won’t be my last. If you enjoy modern ensemble work stripped to its moodily hovering/ ambient base, then this will most certainly appeal.