Fie Schouten bass clarinet | clarinet in A | bassethorn
Vincent Courtois violoncello
Guus Janssen piano | organ | harmonium | harpsichord
featuring Giuseppe Doronzo baritone saxophone (tr 6-8, 10)
The music is improvised and inspired by the book of Judith Schalansky. The music is an echo of her writing, of inspiration by islands, entities with different and changing characteristics.
Judith Schalansky: "Atlas of Remote Islands, 50 islands I never set foot on and never will"
Original: "Atlas der abgelegenen Inseln" (2009, Mare Verlag)
"The echoes of Judith Schalansky’s writing are innumerable.... overlooked maps, forbidden manuscripts, anonymous reports, medieval codices, letters of hope and despair. It depends on each reader, on the way we allow ourselves to be nourished by books that are run through by accuracy, multiplicity and consistency... Her writing explores ancestral labyrinths and forking paths, and oscillates between the sublime and the sinister, but breaks away from dualistic mirages." (Juan Insua, 8.3.2022)
Some reviews
Citizen Jazz, Nicolas Dourlhès 17.3.2024
…une synthèse originale….. Ce n’est pas la moindre qualité de cette formation que de laisser du suspens et de l’espace dans l’imaginaire sonore qu’elle convoque. La liberté de création invite bien à investir tous les territoires, mais le bagage commun issu de la littérature classique dans laquelle piochent les musiciens leur sert à décrire de belles pages fortement évocatoires.
salt peanuts* (NO) Eyal Hareuveni (IL), 4.1.24
The twelve pieces explore the mysterious sonic territories of these unknown islands, and tell enchanting and nuanced stories, with a great sense of drama and imagination, beauty and elegance. There is no need to leave your home but simply join this fantastic journey in and around the islands’ labyrinthian stories, images and memories.
freiStil #112 März/April 2024
Tristan da Cuhna klingt harmonisch, Diego Garcia dissonant, Rapa Iti unheimlich, Vostok wird mit Cembalo-Klängen bedacht, Solitude Island mit leisen, zarten Tönen.
7. 12. 2023 Jan Hocek (Czechia)
Hudební atlas odlehlých ostrovů [Musical Atlas of Remote Islands]
“… Raoul Island... Here the musicians work in an elaborate counterpoint of varying intensity and density. Drones of near-psychedelic effect, minimalist pulsation, expanding lyrical surfaces and other sonic experiments are gradually added, the timbral richness enhanced by bass clarinet, organ and baritone saxophone. I consider this track to be the highlight of the album…. A truly original project!“
Idea: Fie Schouten
special thanks to my family, Guus, Vincent, Giuseppe, Henning, Kevin, Arjan, Ivana, Elisabeth, Orgelpark Amsterdam, Judith, Annet
credits
released November 24, 2023
all compositions by Fie Schouten, Vincent Courtois, Guus Janssen, Giuseppe Doronzo
recorded at Orgelpark, Amsterdam on 24 March 2023
recording, mix, master Arjan van Asselt
cover artwork (live-drawing) Henning Bolte, design Ivana Djukic
Relative Pitch Records 1179
The Dutch clarinettist Fie Schouten is a specialist in the performance of new music with a preference for playing on the low
clarinets. She can be heard extensively as a soloist and with her own groups. She is Artistic Director of a bass clarinet festival titled Basklarinet Festijn and Professor of Bass Clarinet / contemporary music at the Prince Claus Conservatoire Groningen. (pict M. Palitta)...more
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