Contemporary classical is a Pandora’s box. You don’t know what you’ll find, and you have no idea how it could affect you! The new classical composers are always after something new, on the brink of knowledge and theory, they’re like post-doctorate fellows, and I’m sure some of them actually are! So, new compositions are fascinating, but new recordings of modern composers or even older ones can be truly satisfying as well. And on top of that, there’s another branch of composers; they might not be after a new sound, and don’t tread old ground either, but rather make new music of any genre for classical instruments. On the other hand, you’ve also got those who write classical music for non-classical instruments! Really, you cannot get bored! If you want to get into this genre, might I suggest a few of my favourites from this year?
Number Five: Alora Crucible – Thymiamatascension
Closer to post-rock than to Ben Johnston, Toby Driver’s Alora Crucible is nonetheless an outstanding soundtrack inspired by classical music. A beautiful and atmospheric journey. Take your time with it, because the next albums are not going to be so calming.
Number Four: Ensemble Dal niente – Confined. Speak.
Confined. Speak is a byproduct, in many ways, of the global pandemic that hit in 2020 and that is still ongoing. Taking compositions from all around the world, the Chicago ensemble recorded them for that album. And what an impressive bunch of compositions! A superb album!
Number Three: Anna Gadt, Zbigniew Chojnacki, and Krzysztof Gradziuk – Renaissance Gesualdo
Renaissance Gesualdo is an almost daunting experience for the listener. On that double album, Anna Gadt adapted some works of ⅩⅥ century composer Carlo Gesualdo into modern European jazz. So, this isn’t so much a classical album as a jazz album, but it’s important for me that it features in the classical category. Indeed, if classical music can be interpreted note for note just as it was written and intended, it can also serve as inspiration for new music, and be warped into something new, even unrecognizable, and this is a perfect example of this!
Number Two: Patricia Kopatchinskaja – Pierrot lunaire
Patricia Kopatchinskaja is a formidable violinist, musician, and composer. However, amidst all her releases this year, I’ve chosen her rendition of Arnold Schönberg. Why? Pierrot lunaire has a special place for me. It’s a piece I was introduced to when I was far from ready for it, but I kept being pulled back to it, like a moth to a lamplight, not knowing what attracted me so. When it finally clicked, it felt like a realization, and Patricia’s recording is just another opportunity for me to recommend this life-changing piece!
Number One: Taylor Brook & Tak Ensemble – Star Maker Fragments
Since early this year, I doubted any album could dislodge Star Maker Fragments from its lofty place as classical music AOTY. Well, it seems that, no matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find another album that worked so perfectly for me… Using extended composition and playing techniques, well beyond my knowledge or capacity, Taylor Brook & the Tak ensemble have crafted a truly fascinating alien soundtrack. It is just the best!
Notable Releases
Hover over foreign scripts for pronunciation and romanization.
Friday, 8 January
Patricia Kopatchinskaja, Sol Gabeta, Francesco Coll, and Camerata Bern – Plaisirs illuminés
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