Ruders: Four Dances in One Movement / Dramaphonia / Corpus Cum Figuris

Featuring

Søren Kinch Hansen
Erik Kaltoft
Arhus Sinfonietta
Poul Ruders

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Composition History

Corpus cum figuris (1985), for 20 instruments, was commissioned by the Ensemble Intercontemporain and the Danish Broadcasting Corporation.

Performer Biography

Erik Kaltoft, the pianist on this recording, is an important figure in Aarhus's musical life and has participated in over 150 first performances of new works, mostly Danish.

Composition History

Dramaphonia (1987) was commissioned by Danish pianist Poul Rosenbaum and the British ensemble Lontano, who premiered it in London in May 1988.

Compositional Technique

Dramaphonia is the first part of Poul Ruders' large 'Drama Trilogy' and is described as a narrative in sound, exploring the turbulence of human emotions.

Composer Biography

Poul Ruders, a Danish composer born in 1949, has created a significant body of mainly orchestral music, including two symphonies and numerous solo concertos.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Poul Ruders' chamber pieces from the mid-1980s reflect his interest in 'abstract drama,' aiming to engage the listener's 'inner stage' and imagination.

Composer's Artistic Vision

The title Corpus cum figuris, meaning 'Body with Figurations,' refers to Thomas Mann's fictional composer Adrian Leverkühn in his novel Doctor Faustus, indicating a 'huge, vibrant body of sound'.