Eisler & Prokofiev: Bridges (Hollywood Song Book & Transcriptions)
10/30/2015, 12 Tracks, 44:59
Featuring
Laurent Naouri
Thomas Savy
Arnault Cuisinier
Guillaume de Chassy
Hanns Eisler
Did you know?
1/7
Interpretation
The trio on this album, Guillaume de Chassy (piano), Thomas Savy (clarinets), and Arnault Cuisinier (double bass), explores the intersection of classical music and jazz, drawing on their shared cultural roots.
Composer Biography
Hanns Eisler and Sergei Prokofiev, the two composers featured, both experienced American exile, though for different reasons: Eisler fled Nazi Germany, and Prokofiev fled Bolshevik Russia.
Recording & Production
The recording venue, Noirlac Abbey, is a cultural exchange center that aims to connect its rich heritage with diverse artistic activities, including artist residencies and recordings.
Compositional Technique
The music in Eisler's 'Hollywood Songbook' spans various styles, from dodecaphony to Berlin cabaret and American folk music, illustrating the concept of 'degenerate music' banned by the Nazis.
Composition History
Hanns Eisler's 'Hollywood Songbook' was composed in 1943, largely using poems by Bertolt Brecht, his fellow exile in Los Angeles.
Interpretation
The improvisations on this album are constructed circularly, without a designated soloist, allowing roles to switch dynamically within the group.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in November 2014 at the Noirlac Abbey, a Cistercian monastery in the heart of the Berry region of France.
You might also enjoy...
Look Ahead
Duo Mandala Tapestry
Italian Opera Transcribed for Wind Ensemble
Sounds of the North
Music of Ezra Laderman, Vol. 5
Music of William Schmidt
Dances, Songs, Inventions
Give It to the Sky: Arthur Russell's Tower of Meaning Expanded
