The repertoire on this CD, featuring works by composers like Roman Ryterband, Astor Piazzolla, and Maurice Ravel, speaks to themes of forlornness, passion, hope, and longing.
Instruments
Maurice Ravel's "Tzigane" was originally scored with a luthéal, a prepared piano designed to mimic the sound of the Hungarian cimbalom, an instrument whose sounds the harpist Kirsten Ecke can closely imitate.
Composition History
Hooshyar Khayam, an Iranian composer, wrote "Die wandelnden Feen von Neukölln" (The Fairies of Neukölln) for the duo after being inspired by the immigrant life and vibrant streets of Berlin in 2007.
Album & Artwork
The album's title, "Auf dem Weg" (On the Way), reflects a theme of people on a journey and searching for a homeland, inspired by contemporary social movements and intercultural bridge-building.
Composer Biography
Thomas Rajna, a composer and concert pianist, grew up in Budapest and moved to London after his father was killed by the Nazis, later finding a new home in South Africa as a professor.
Performer Biography
Kirsten Ecke, the harpist on this album, is an honorary professor at the Freiburg Conservatory of Music and aims to challenge the harp's cliché as a gentle instrument, showcasing its wild and spirited capabilities.
Historical Context
Roman Ryterband, a composer featured on this album, fled racist persecution during World War II, emigrating from Poland to Switzerland and later to Canada and the United States.
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