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CD
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INT 34372CD
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"When Markus Stockhausen composes, he creates a multi-dimensional cosmos from sounds. He succeeds in doing that even with compositions for small ensembles. However, when he does this for a large orchestra as here, then he has an almost inexhaustible range at his disposal. And he understands how to use it: The two pieces 'YIN' and 'YANG' were composed between March and May 2011 and were first performed in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw in the same year. 'The idea was to compose specifically for the Metropole Orkest and its soloists. I tried to make 'YIN' softer and more colorful with warmer qualities of sound. On the other hand, 'YANG' starts powerfully with a sudden heightening; it has a great deal of expressive power with a high energy level and clear rhythmic grooves. The end is then again carried by the four soloists from 'YIN.' With that, the circle is closed and Yin and Yang are reconciled,' Stockhausen wrote about his thoughts concerning the two compositions. A composition follows with 'Tanzendes Licht' that Stockhausen once composed for the Camerata Bern and Swiss Jazz Orchestra and enhanced for the Metropole Orkest. The piece was intended as homage to Paul Klee, and Stockhausen was inspired by the shimmering light at sunset on a large body of water. These reflections are again found in the music and stimulate the tones to dance in an unusual beat (9/8), but which is played around with so easily and loosely that you hardly notice it. The encore piece 'FELICE' was -- as are YIN & YANG -- composed for this concert evening, which was recorded live. Judged by the thunderous applause, he certainly succeeded in that. The radio orchestra, which has existed since 1945, has earned an almost legendary reputation since its founding and is considered the last of its kind in all of Europe. The influence of the conductor Jules Buckley is not to be underestimated either; he carefully led the orchestra into Stockhausen's style."
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INT 32122CD
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"The violinist Michael White can be regarded as an elementary jazz figure. Together with Bill Frisell, one of the leading jazz-guitar innovators, White recorded the album Motion Pictures in the late '90s. The instrumentation reveals a proximity to country and western music, but what these two virtuosos conjure up here is a much greater range of tonal colors stemming from classical music, the avant garde, blues and naturally jazz. White and Frisell create an impressionist picture album on Motion Pictures with the clear emphasis on a wealth of nuance and atmospheric depth. As elegant as they are playful, the two musicians circle around each other, comment upon and decorate each other, juggle with moments of tension and silence -- the tonal equivalent of shade, twilight and the individual flowing, golden rays of sunlight shining upon a vast cloudy background."
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CD
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INT 34622CD
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"Nicholas Lens, a Belgian composer of contemporary music, is known particularly for his operas. One of his earliest works is the music drama Flamma Flamma: The Fire Requiem, the first part of his trilogy The Accacha Chronicles (Flamma Flamma/Terra Terra/Amor Aeternus). The fusion of non-European musical cultures and Western classical music has been described as highly unique. Flamma Flamma is conspicuous for its unusual instrumentation - apart from chamber orchestra, mixed choir and six soloists, there are also a Japanese koto, an extensive percussion set-up and three natural voices. The work is a composition beyond all conventions. Unlike almost any other requiem, Flamma Flamma not only deals with grief and pain, but also with the idea that death is a natural part of life. Tribute is paid to the afterlife without glorifying it, the positive aspects of fire -- such as light and warmth -- are praised and all human emotions in the face of death are addressed, across all philosophical and even musical boundaries. Flamma Flamma has been used numerous times for the most diverse art events and hundreds of dance and ballet creations around the world. For instance, it was performed live at the opening of the Adelaide Festival with more than 1,000 performers in front of an audience of 30,000 people. After its first release on CD in 1994, Flamma Flamma moved up various international charts and quickly went from being an insiders' tip to a huge success, with even a videoclip showing on MTV and Arte. Tracks such as 'Sumus Vicinae,' 'Corpus Inimici' or the title track 'Flamma Flamma' have even become cult classics and made it to some alternative dance floors from Paris to NY and Tokyo. Flamma Flamma by Nicholas Lens will now be re-released on an elaborately designed double vinyl in gatefold cover to mark the 30th anniversary. The composer himself artistically supervised the re-mastering."
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LP
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INT 30041LP
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Restocked. "2024 re-release. The renowned and widely acclaimed music label Intuition, well known since the 1980s, is proud to announce the release of its most important and successful back-catalogue titles on vinyl under the name 'Intuition Master Series'. The American trumpeter and multi-instrumentalist Jon Hassell (March 22, 1937-June 26, 2021) was an international legend despite never having managed a popular breakthrough. Hassell was a musical visionary and pioneer, one who was inspired by ambient sounds and new music. He appreciated the music of avant-gardists such as Stockhausen, in whose Cologne school he also studied. He came into contact with Terry Riley and his minimalistic music early on and played on his first albums. Hassell was also a musically driven person, someone who had to get to the bottom of styles. Thus, he was intensively involved with Far Eastern, but especially Indian music. Using the ingredients he learned, he created a completely new way of playing on and with the trumpet. He created language-like modulated air currents flowing through the instrument to produce seemingly alien, microtonal sounds. He combined this technique with ethnic polyrhythms, electronic alienation, soundscapes and jazz to create his own style, which he called 'Fourth World'. With this kind of music, he significantly influenced numerous emerging styles such as world music, nujazz or ambient. It is no mistake to say that without Hassell's ideas, these types of music would have taken a very different course. Hassell's influence on the music world cannot be overestimated, even if he himself was always unimpressed by the praise. 'It's the invisible things that buzz around us. You just have to bring them to light and make them visible.' In a tried and tested association with Brian Eno (as producer), his first completely live-recorded album was released at that time. The individual pieces, which were recorded in Paris, Vancouver, Hamburg and Brussels, reflect the special atmosphere that made every (rare) Jon Hassell concert something extraordinary. Intuition's 1987 The Surgeon of the Nightsky Restores Dead Things by the Power of Sound is undoubtedly one of his best works."
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INT 30042CD
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"Original 1991 CD release. In a tried and tested association with Brian Eno (as producer), Jon Hassell's first completely live-recorded album was released at that time. The individual pieces, which were recorded in Paris, Vancouver, Hamburg and Brussels, reflect the special atmosphere that made every (rare) Hassell concert something extraordinary. The extremely delicate preparation and post-processing of the live material in the studio mix also makes it clear to the listener what subtle means Jon Hassell used to captivate his audience. In interaction with the audience, Hassell opens a window to the understanding of a music whose pulse and mood can be heard and perceived simultaneously in New York, Rangoon, Maracaibo, Paris, Palembang or Cologne. This album is an absolute work of sound-art."
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