‘Modern: Designating the most innovative forms of art in a given period,
particularly those of the 20th century.’ This definition from the
French Larousse dictionary explains the performers’ choice of title –
Modernistes – for this new anthology of music for wind instruments: what
draws the attention in these works – in different ways at different
times and in different fields – are their innovative, progressive and
adventurous qualities. Four of the composers featured on this album can
legitimately be associated with what is very broadly known as Modernism,
referring to the general proliferation of new ideas and new musical
aesthetics at the turn of the 20th century and beyond. As for the two
works by Philippe Hersant and Thierry Escaich, they call on us to
reflect on what modernity means to us today. And, while it is easy to
set Modernism in opposition to traditionalism, it is also interesting to
distinguish between a composer’s personality and his or her approach to
composing.
With its new double album Moderniste, the quintet together with pianist Eric le Sage illuminates on the one hand the dawn of modernism, primarily in the French-speaking area of the early 20th century, but at the same time it also draws a bow to the present with two world premiere recordings.
ResponderEliminarThe playful informality of classical music, combined with the harmonic and formal possibilities of modernism in the early 20th century, which was curious about new dissonances: One could also describe the arts of composers such as Darius Milhaud, André Jolivet or Albéric Magnard.
I am very curious and thank you very much for this suggestion!