JON BALKE / SIWAN - Hafla
ECM 4537594
Mona Boutchebak (vocals, kwitra(); Derya Turkan (kemençe); Bjarte Eike (baroque violin, leader); Helge Norbakken (percussion); Pedram Khaver Zamini (tombak); Per Buhre (vocals, viola); Jon Balke (keyboards, electronics, tombak)
Barokksolistne:
Peter Spissky, Louise Gorm, Arsema Asghodom (violin); Torbjörn Köhl, Mikkel Schreiber (viola); Mime Yamahiro Brinkman, Judith-Maria Blomsterberg (violincello); Johannes Lundberg (double bass)
Recorded May/June 2021
Siwan is a staggeringly complex and well-conceived ensemble that repays careful listening and attention to detail from the musicians, and demands nothing less from the listener. With this latest release, Hafla, the Norwegian keyboards player, composer and arranger, Jon Balke has produced a marvellous trilogy of albums that bridge the musical gap between musical cultures around the globe. A true trans-idiomatic, genre defying group of likeminded musicians who under Balke's vision and guidance have produced music of rare beauty.
Taking his inspiration from the creative spirit of Al-Andalus, and drawing on texts and verses from Ummayad princess Wallada bint al-Mustakfi, Ibn Zaydun and Ibn Sara As-Santarini that date back more than a thousand years, Balke has managed to incorporate Western string section, traditional instruments from Iran and Turkey, and the ancient texts beautifully sung by Mona Boutchbak into an ensemble music that transcends time.
With the parts for the string ensemble, Barokksolistene ,entirely scored Balke has then had to communicate the music to musicians who don't normally read music, often transferring notes for what is to be played by recording demos of the music played by keyboards, cello and percussion. The result exhibits some imaginative scoring for the strings, as heard on the lovely 'Saeta' that also cleverly encompass percussion and electronic keyboards in the mix. This is done with such subtlety that it is easy to become engrossed in the overall ensemble sound as opposed to identifying what is being played and when, and that, after all is everything the composer could ask for.
Vocalist, Mona Boitchebak, makes a welcome return from Siwan's 2017 album, Nahnou Houm, and her contribution to Hafla is no less stunning. 'Vista' is quite sublime with the beautiful string arrangement and the gentle pull of Johannes Lundberg's double bass lines, and the more traditional accompaniment of 'Mirada Furtiva'. Having said that, this is not an album for soloists or featured musicians but a collective ensemble whose creativity is to marvel at.
Once again, Jon Balke has brought a diverse collection of musicians together to create some truly original and unique music that just seems to go from strength to strength. With a tour imminent, let us hope that is feasible to keep this incredible ensemble togethrer, working on and developing this music further.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
ECM 4537594
Mona Boutchebak (vocals, kwitra(); Derya Turkan (kemençe); Bjarte Eike (baroque violin, leader); Helge Norbakken (percussion); Pedram Khaver Zamini (tombak); Per Buhre (vocals, viola); Jon Balke (keyboards, electronics, tombak)
Barokksolistne:
Peter Spissky, Louise Gorm, Arsema Asghodom (violin); Torbjörn Köhl, Mikkel Schreiber (viola); Mime Yamahiro Brinkman, Judith-Maria Blomsterberg (violincello); Johannes Lundberg (double bass)
Recorded May/June 2021
Siwan is a staggeringly complex and well-conceived ensemble that repays careful listening and attention to detail from the musicians, and demands nothing less from the listener. With this latest release, Hafla, the Norwegian keyboards player, composer and arranger, Jon Balke has produced a marvellous trilogy of albums that bridge the musical gap between musical cultures around the globe. A true trans-idiomatic, genre defying group of likeminded musicians who under Balke's vision and guidance have produced music of rare beauty.
Taking his inspiration from the creative spirit of Al-Andalus, and drawing on texts and verses from Ummayad princess Wallada bint al-Mustakfi, Ibn Zaydun and Ibn Sara As-Santarini that date back more than a thousand years, Balke has managed to incorporate Western string section, traditional instruments from Iran and Turkey, and the ancient texts beautifully sung by Mona Boutchbak into an ensemble music that transcends time.
With the parts for the string ensemble, Barokksolistene ,entirely scored Balke has then had to communicate the music to musicians who don't normally read music, often transferring notes for what is to be played by recording demos of the music played by keyboards, cello and percussion. The result exhibits some imaginative scoring for the strings, as heard on the lovely 'Saeta' that also cleverly encompass percussion and electronic keyboards in the mix. This is done with such subtlety that it is easy to become engrossed in the overall ensemble sound as opposed to identifying what is being played and when, and that, after all is everything the composer could ask for.
Vocalist, Mona Boitchebak, makes a welcome return from Siwan's 2017 album, Nahnou Houm, and her contribution to Hafla is no less stunning. 'Vista' is quite sublime with the beautiful string arrangement and the gentle pull of Johannes Lundberg's double bass lines, and the more traditional accompaniment of 'Mirada Furtiva'. Having said that, this is not an album for soloists or featured musicians but a collective ensemble whose creativity is to marvel at.
Once again, Jon Balke has brought a diverse collection of musicians together to create some truly original and unique music that just seems to go from strength to strength. With a tour imminent, let us hope that is feasible to keep this incredible ensemble togethrer, working on and developing this music further.
Reviewed by Nick Lea
