Stefan Koim

ROYAL (musicaphon M56975)

“ROYAL…, noble sound in courtly context,” this, in a few short words, is how one could describe the music of the most famous Renaissance lutenist John Dowland, which is the main focus of this CD by Stefan Koim. On one hand, compositions by Dowland are presented which represent an impressive fusion of heart, spirit and intellect from the quill of a cosmopolitan musician of the sixteenth century. On the other hand, there are two important modern compositions by Benjamin Britten and Hans Werner Henze, who refer to Dowland and the lute music of the Elizabethan era in their works. This is explicit in Britten’s Nocturnal, a variation work on John Dowland’s Air Come Heavy Sleepe, whose original form untypically appears only at the very end of the composition. The reference is rather implicit for Hans Werner Henze’s cycle of Royal Winter Music written in London. He was inspired by the works of the English poet, playwright and Dowland-contemporary, William Shakespeare. It is therefore inconceivable that he did not have Dowland’s lute music in his ear while composing his work for solo guitar. Therefore, the compositions compiled on this CD are intended above all to call attention to two things: the still fascinating sound of an era that is frequently called the “Golden Age” of English history and the still inspiring potential, after 400 years, of this music for that of the modern age.

Bei allen Fragen rund ums Album wenden Sie sich an:

klassik21
PR für Künstler, Labels und Organisationen der klassischen Musik
Dr. Rainer Aschemeier
Tel.: +49 (0) 5531-8 14 48 99
www.klassik21.de

À L’ESPAGNOL (musicaphon M56963)

On his debut CD “À l’Espagnol,” Stefan Koim presents works from the Baroque era to modern times. The unifying elements of this musical journey through the guitar repertoire are the origins, influences, and traditions of Spanish music. In the case of the Chaconne from Johann Sebastian Bach’s Second Partita for Violin, BWV 1004, the relationship to Spain is to be understood in terms of form: the chaconne was originally a folk dance, already verifiable in Spain around 1600. Elements of folk music are important aspects of the music written by the Spanish composers Fernando Sor, Manuel de Falla and Joaquín Rodrigo. Moreover, the French composer Tristan Murail utilized performance practices from Flamenco in his work Tellur to achieve his imagined sounds. It’s remarkable that the reception of Spanish elements took place either via France or in direct altercation with influences of French music resp. music by French composers: e.g. Bach used a French model as the basis for his composition the Ciaccona, Sor stayed in Paris, the center of French musical life during his most productive years regarding guitar music. De Falla dedicated his work to the French composer Claude Debussy, whom he very much admired and Rodrigo, as well as Murail, developed their personal styles in altercation with actual tendencies in French musical life. These composers used a mix of Spanish and French elements, creating a distinct connection among the different musical styles in Europe which overlooked national borders.

Passacaglia  della vita

–  an homage to the facets of life: heartache, betrayal, seduction, impermanence, excitement, fun and laughter.

Cembaless plays boldly, joyfully and passionately a hymn to life, expressing emotions ranging between the extreme polarities that human life offers. With its exciting arrangements and grooves the ensemble seeks to create spirited interpretations of early music that beat the pulse of the times!

In “Passacaglia della vita”, the persistently repeating bass melodies, or ostinati, represent the circle of life and all of its diverse emotions.  These ostinati form the basis on which the different languages and melodies as well as musical styles come into contact.

Cembaless’ arrangements offer a new interpretation of songs from the 17^th century to early music enthusiasts und young ears. “To us, it is especially important to make music the way we do – free from dusty music structures and very much in the spirit of our own, modern interpretation.” So can the addition of the Persian drum be seen, perfectly merging together hip-hop beats with the early music.

VÖ-Termin: 29.01.2021

Label: Naxos Deutschland

Art.-Nr.: 8.551439

EAN: 730099143936

Bei allen Fragen rund ums Album wenden Sie sich an:

klassik21
PR für Künstler, Labels und Organisationen der klassischen Musik
Dr. Rainer Aschemeier
Tel.: +49 (0) 5531-8 14 48 99
www.klassik21.de