The Most Beautiful Sounds Next to Silence

Manfred Eicher and ECM have been diligent in their endeavours to bring the expressive and evocative compositions of Estonian composer Erkki-Sven Tüür to wider attention, and this is the ninth New Series album to feature the composer’s work.

For this latest release, the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Olari Elts perform three pieces by Tüür, joined for the long title track by the German Hornsound featuring the unusual ensemble of four French horns, in contrasting pieces that all have their moments of drama and intensely focused ensemble passages that sweep the listener along.

The opening piece composed in 2008 is ‘Phantasma’ and is an indirect homage to Ludvig van Beethoven with reference to Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture, Op. 62 composed in 1807. Tüür’s work makes dramatic use of percussion and strings, and the movement created is heightened by the deployment of flute and woodwind that often work against the strings setting up a wonderful series of events that create tension and release as the narrative unfolds.

By contrast ‘De Profundis’ (2013) is dedicated to conductor Olari Elts and takes a secular them as its inspiration in Tüür’s free interpretation of the Old Testament psalm. Once again, the composer is able to express the music elegantly and boldly as melodies and rhythmic devices and motifs crop up when least expected. This along with some wonderful writing for strings along with the effective use of both harp and vibraphone instil a sense of drama that lingers in the mind.

The centrepiece of the album and the longest work is Symphony No. 10 “ÆRIS” that is perhaps the most intense and energetic composition with the layers of sound from woodwinds and the Hornsound quartet. The sound of the orchestra appears intensely magnified by the addition of the French horns, and this is down to the way in which Tüür cleverly deploys the horns. At times they seem to disappear anonymously into the orchestra while at others their presence is keenly felt and heard as they interact in dialogue as the composer introduces soloists and ensembles from within the ensemble.

Each individual composition stands alone as an epic narrative whether free roam and interpret freely as on ‘Phantasma’, working within the more confined area of interest in ‘De Profundis’ or simply letting the imagination run in the spectacular “ÆRIS”, this is a deeply satisfying programme of music that is constantly stimulating.

(https://jazzviews.net)

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