Mazurka - remaking Chopin
Chopin’s Mazurkas meets the Balkan / Gypsy orchestra instrumentation in a surrealistic but indeed very respectful way. With Gjertruds Sigøynerorkester. Premiere Bergen Festival, May 30th 2009.
CD is now recorded and in progress! To be released ultimo Sept 2010 - in the Chopin year !
Om prosjektet i NRK Musikkredaksjonen 1.mars 2010 , Chopins 200 års dag.
Recording made on the fabulous, restored 1820 Collard & Collard piano at Ulefoss Hovedgård.
The Mazurkas occupy a special position in Frédéric Chopin’s work. They have the distinct rhythm and the edgy tunes of folk music, clothed in raw, beautiful and radical harmony. This inspired composer and pianist Nils Henrik Asheim to read Chopin’s music through the sound of a Gypsy orchestra - taking the classical music back towards the dance floor, so to speak. And: towards the outer boundaries of contemporary sound improvisation.
This may seem like a daring approach. But actually, there is already a clash of cultures in the Mazurkas. Often, a folk-like main part is followed by a more salon-like, classical interlude. Chopin sometimes dissolves his own tune by transposing it chromatically or leaving the end of phrases somehow unfinished, creating a magic and mystical atmosphere - rather the opposite of what you would expect from dance music.
In Asheim and the Gjertrud Gypsy Orchestra’s re-interpretation, the original piano versions drift in and out of the music, into full-blood Gypsy or Balkan-sounding parts, exploring the expressive potential of Chopin’s beatiful tunes. On the other end of the scale, the music dives into intriguing, experimental contemporary sound effects sometimes sounding like a film score.
The project was elaborated through a commission grant from the Norwegian Cultural Council, and a collaboration spanning more than one year between the Gypsy Orchestra and Asheim. Mazurka had its premiere for a sold-out house at the prestigious Bergen International Festival in May 2009.
In 2010, 200 years have passed since the birth of Frédéric Chopin. The “Mazurka”project is a tribute to him, one of the greatest musical geniuses ever, maybe the greatest composer of piano music. In 2010 a release of “Mazurka” CD is planned, which is recorded in the 19th century mansion of Ulefoss in East Norway, on a historic Collard & Collard piano from Chopin’s own time.
The programme is colourful and varied, and therefore suitable for many types of audiences. It can be presented in different lengths - The full version is a concert of 35+30 minutes.
THE MUSICIANS
Nils Henrik Asheim (pianist, composer)
Nils Henrik Asheim is known as one of Norway’s most prolific and acclaimed composers, also as an innovative improviser on the organ and piano. He appeared in public as a composer for the first time at the age of 15. In 1978 he was awarded European Broadcasting Union’s Rostrum-prize. He got his education from The National Norwegian Music Academy in Oslo and Sweelinck Conservatory, Amsterdam. His works are performed widely internationally.
Gjertrud’s Gypsy Orchestra
The Orchestra is since 1989 specializing in Eastern European Gypsy Music from Russia, Rumania and, first of all, Hungary. The group have learnt the music directly from Gypsy musicians in Budapest. They have toured all Norway, appeared in radio and TV shows, in a number of festivals and released several CD’s. The Orchestra receives a grant from the Norwegian Cultural Council. The excellent Hungarian musician Ernest Bangó, known from his collaboration with Roby Lakatos, has now replaced Lá́szló Rácz as the group’s cimbalom player.
Musicians of the Gypsy Orchestra:
Gjertrud Økland (violin)
Georg Reiss (clarinet, tárogató)
Tom Karlsrud (accordeon)
Pål Thorstensen (double bass)
Trond Villa (viola)
Helene Waage (cello, celtic harp)
Ernest Bangó (cimbalom)
Contact:
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