The album features the musical saw, an instrument mainly associated with folk music, played by Christian Martínez, which for the composer Per Nørgård was a memory of childhood backyard musicians.
Compositional Technique
Per Nørgård developed his 'infinity series' compositional method based on mathematician Benoit Mandelbrot's fractal theories, which he used in his Third Symphony.
Composer Biography
Per Nørgård was inspired by Balinese music during three trips to Bali in the late 1970s, which influenced his use of rhythmic hierarchies and the Golden Section proportions.
Performer Biography
The Esbjerg Ensemble, founded in 1967 by the Danish Ministry of Culture, consists of 12 international musicians and has set the standard for chamber music in Denmark for almost 40 years.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Per Nørgård, the composer, once stated he stands with one foot in Western rationalism and the other in Eastern mysticism, searching for something entirely different.
Performer Biography
Christian Martínez, the percussionist on this album, is from Cali, Colombia, and completed his studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen.
Compositional Technique
Per Nørgård's percussion work I Ching, inspired by the ancient Chinese book, is highly demanding and requires great physical ability from the percussionist due to its complex 'yin and yang' rhythms.
You might also enjoy...
Mandala 3
Koechlin: Chamber Music With Flute
Toivo Tulev: Dawn, Almost Dawn
Ishii: Thirteen Drums
Greek Flute Music of the 20th and 21st Centuries
Takemitsu: Toward the Sea / Rain Tree / Rain Spell / Bryce
