The work "Mourned by the Wind" was inspired by the death of Kancheli's close friend, musicologist Givi Ordzhonikidze, and was originally for viola and orchestra.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Kancheli's music is profoundly influenced by the spirit of Georgian folk music, though he rarely incorporates its actual language into his compositions.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Kancheli avoids calling his works 'concertos' because he associates the term with virtuosity and external effects, preferring simple, confessional compositions.
Compositional Technique
Kancheli's "Mourned by the Wind" features a large orchestra including five percussionists, celesta, spinet, piano, and bass guitar, with an option for electronic amplification of the piano.
Composer Biography
Giya Kancheli, born in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 1935, is a contemporary of prominent composers like Sofia Gubaidulina, Alfred Schnittke, Arvo Pärt, and Valentin Silvestrov.
Instruments
Alexander Ivashkin, the cellist on this recording, plays a Joseph Guarneri cello from 1710, provided by the Bridgewater Trust.
Historical Context
Kancheli's musical education benefited from the post-Stalin 'Thaw' in the Soviet Union, which allowed the country to catch up with Western cultural trends.
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