ANJA LECHNER & FRANCOIS COUTURIER - Moderato cantabile
Music of Komitas Vardapet (1869-1935), G. I. Gurdjieff (1866-1949), Federico Mompou (1893-1987), Franҫois Couturier (b. 1950)
ECM New Series 481 0992
Anja Lechner: violoncello; Franҫois Couturier: piano
Recorded November 2013
As is readily apparent from the information above, this is not a jazz release. It is however performed by a jazz pianist with an interest in blurring or even ignoring constraints such as genres or other classifications, and a classical soloist with a deep interest and understanding of improvisation. Both are familiar with each other’s playing having worked together in the Tarkovsky Quartet, and in the Pergolesi Project with singer, Maria Pia De Vito appearing on the album Il Pergolese. Anja Lechner has also impressed me greatly with her playing on Ketil Bjornstad’s La Notte, also on ECM.
Compositions are featured from four composers, including Couturier himself whose music is utterly of the moment, and almost painterly splashing colour on the pieces using extended techniques for cello and piano. Komitas Vardapet is represented by a solitary composition, ‘Chinar se’, with a beautifully lyrical melody that drifts over a repetitive rhythmic motif. In contrast, Frederico Mompou’s ‘Cancion y danza VI’ leads with a jaunty step and presents a mood of stateliness and serenity on ‘Musica callada XXVIII/Impressions intimas I’.
However the music that fascinated me the most were the compositions of George I. Gurdjieff, which turn out not to be compositions but half remembered tunes heard whilst travelled and then hummed or whistled and transcribed by pianist Thomas de Hartmann. The task was still further confounded by Gurdjieff never phrasing the melodies the same way twice. The resulting music has held an interest for many and indeed Keith Jarrett recorded an album for ECM, Sacred Hymns of G.I. Gurdjieff. Long held beliefs that these pieces were primarily for piano has been challenged by musician’s such as Lechner who recorded her interpretations in duet with pianist Vassilis Tsabropoulos, Chants, Hymns and Dances and once again brings this unusual music to life in partnership with Couturier.
This is an album full of surprises and delights, and though mostly through composed and fully notated, retains an air of freshness and spontaneity that is worthy of your attention.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
Music of Komitas Vardapet (1869-1935), G. I. Gurdjieff (1866-1949), Federico Mompou (1893-1987), Franҫois Couturier (b. 1950)
ECM New Series 481 0992
Anja Lechner: violoncello; Franҫois Couturier: piano
Recorded November 2013
As is readily apparent from the information above, this is not a jazz release. It is however performed by a jazz pianist with an interest in blurring or even ignoring constraints such as genres or other classifications, and a classical soloist with a deep interest and understanding of improvisation. Both are familiar with each other’s playing having worked together in the Tarkovsky Quartet, and in the Pergolesi Project with singer, Maria Pia De Vito appearing on the album Il Pergolese. Anja Lechner has also impressed me greatly with her playing on Ketil Bjornstad’s La Notte, also on ECM.
Compositions are featured from four composers, including Couturier himself whose music is utterly of the moment, and almost painterly splashing colour on the pieces using extended techniques for cello and piano. Komitas Vardapet is represented by a solitary composition, ‘Chinar se’, with a beautifully lyrical melody that drifts over a repetitive rhythmic motif. In contrast, Frederico Mompou’s ‘Cancion y danza VI’ leads with a jaunty step and presents a mood of stateliness and serenity on ‘Musica callada XXVIII/Impressions intimas I’.
However the music that fascinated me the most were the compositions of George I. Gurdjieff, which turn out not to be compositions but half remembered tunes heard whilst travelled and then hummed or whistled and transcribed by pianist Thomas de Hartmann. The task was still further confounded by Gurdjieff never phrasing the melodies the same way twice. The resulting music has held an interest for many and indeed Keith Jarrett recorded an album for ECM, Sacred Hymns of G.I. Gurdjieff. Long held beliefs that these pieces were primarily for piano has been challenged by musician’s such as Lechner who recorded her interpretations in duet with pianist Vassilis Tsabropoulos, Chants, Hymns and Dances and once again brings this unusual music to life in partnership with Couturier.
This is an album full of surprises and delights, and though mostly through composed and fully notated, retains an air of freshness and spontaneity that is worthy of your attention.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
