Beat Furrer: Works for Choir and Ensemble
The music of Beat Furrer, Swiss-born (in 1954) and Vienna-based, has long attracted attention for its subtle exploration of the possibilities of the human voice. This first recording of his enigmas, a cycle of six a cappella settings of Leonardo (he has since added a seventh) demonstrates its striking emotional range, from rich, almost Romantic tonal warmth to dramatic avant-garde expressionism. It is complemented by two works which underline Furrer’s fondness for exploring sonority, timbre and texture.
Helsinki Chamber Choir
Uusinta Ensemble
Nils Schweckendiek
Listen To This Recording:
-
enigmas I-VI for mixed choir a cappella (2006-2013)
- enigma I (2006)
- enigma II (2008)
- enigma III (2008)
- enigma IV (2010)
- enigma V (2012)
- enigma VI (2013)
- voices — still for mixed choir and ensemble (2001)
- …cold and calm and moving for flute, harp, violin, viola and cello (1992)*
All Except * First Recordings
Michael Cayley :
Beat Furrer is a Swiss-born composer living in Austria. These are modernist choral works which are extremely economical in their use of musical motifs. Don’t expect conventional singing. The music exploits a wide range of vocal techniques, including near-speech, exhalations and screeches – and silence. Where there is instrumental writing, it is very spare. The results are extremely atmospheric and beautiful, and at times mesmeric. The music is superbly performed. I had never come across this composer before, but I love these works.
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Gramophone :
‘…beautifully produced disc… The first four of six a cappela Enigmas (2006-13) swell and throb around darkly mystical prophesies of Leonardo da Vinci while preserving line and sense. … Rough breathing and extended vocal techniques crumple and then shred Leonardo’s words into the ghosts and shadows that are the object of his disturbed contemplation. … The tests on performers are even stronger, the expression is weaker and more diffuse, in voices – still (2001), which layers a lovely fragment of Virgilian pastoral over a previously composed ensemble piece. Restless, glittering textures offer much passing diversion on their way to another abrupt but satisfying conclusion. Even so, Furrer’s mastery of timing emerges with a more instinctively felt sense of rightness from the initially loose-leaved pages of …cold and calm and moving (1992). …the notes hang in suspended animation with no special place to go, and no pressing need to go there. Quiet poise and patience are required both by listeners and by performers, and supplied by the Uusinta Ensemble. As well as conducting with a sure hand, Nils Schweckendiek has written useful booklet-notes.’
—Peter Quantrill, Gramophone, November 2016
MusicWeb International :
‘The Helsinki Chamber Choir’s immaculate ensemble, well-enunciated diction and rhythmic acuity, under the inspirational direction of Nils Schweckendiek all add up to a winning combination. The Uusinta Ensemble’s alert playing and profound musicianship are convincing and compelling. Schweckendiek’s booklet contribution is informative and successfully fills in the background. All are first recordings except for …cold and calm and moving. Well-recorded, these adventurous scores are showcased at their very best.’
—Stephen Greenbank, MusicWeb International
Fanfare Magazine :
‘Furrer’s compositions are a treat for the lover of avant-garde vocal music. Toccata’s pristine sound gives the listener the feeling of having a fifth row center seat in an intimate concert hall. The booklet with the CD gives a great deal of information about the music […] I enjoyed this foray into the avant-garde and think many lovers of new vocal music will want to hear it.’
—Maria Nockin, Fanfare Magazine, December 2016
Yleisradio :
‘Aikamme persoonallisimpiin ja kiinnostavimpiin säveltäjiin lukeutuvan Beat Furrerin musiikki väistää perinteen asettamia ennakko-odotuksia ja toimii aivan omilla ehdoillaan. Siitä huolimatta se on intuitiivisesti, humaanilla tavalla puhuttelevaa. Kaksi Suomen musiikkivientiin viime vuosina ansiokkaasti osallistunutta kokoonpanoa, Helsingin kamarikuoro ja Uusinta Ensemble astuvat merkittäviin saappaisiin levyttäessään Beat Furrerin teoksia kuorolle ja soitinyhtyeelle—ja onnistuvat siinä erinomaisesti. […]
Helsingin kamarikuoro ja Uusinta Ensemble yltävät kapellimestari Nils Schweckendiekin tarkassa ohjauksessa teoksen vaatimuksiin tarjoillen siitä ehyen kokemuksen.’
English translation:
‘The music of Beat Furrer, one of the most personal and interesting composers of our time, avoids the preconceived expectations set by tradition and works on its own terms. Nevertheless, it is intuitively, humanely appealing. Two ensembles that have contributed significantly to Finland’s musical export in recent years, the Helsinki Chamber Choir and the Uusinta Ensemble, step into significant shoes when recording Beat Furrer’s works for choir and instrumental ensemble—and succeed in doing so excellently. […]
Under the careful guidance of conductor Nils Schweckendiek, the Helsinki Chamber Choir and the Uusinta Ensemble rise to the demands of the work, offering a complete experience of it.’
—Ville Komppa, Yleisradio, January 2017
concerto.net :
‘Le Chœur de chambre d’Helsinki magistralement dirigé par Nils Schweckendiek tutoie l’excellence des Neue Vocalisten Stuttgart, champions incontestés de ce type de répertoire; et confirme par la même occasion la bonne santé musicale de la Finlande, à laquelle on doit d’immenses artistes’
English translation:
‘The Helsinki Chamber Choir, masterfully conducted by Nils Schweckendiek, rivals the excellence of the Neue Vocalisten Stuttgart, undisputed champions of this type of repertoire; and at the same time confirms the musical health of Finland, to which we owe some immense artists.’
—Jérémie Bigorie, concerto.net
Guardian :
‘Between 2006 and 2013 Furrer, continued to add to the series, until it contained six pieces, all with texts from Leonardo da Vinci’s Prophecies, which may be performed separately or as a set. The aim of the settings changed, too, so that Enigma V is not only as long as the other five pieces put together, but technically goes way beyond what any amateur choir could possibly attempt. It makes the pieces a hugely attractive collection: a journey into ever-increasing complexity that is full of subtle transformations and strikingly original, sometimes strikingly simple, ideas – the perfect antidote to the neo-romantic pap that so often passes for choral music today.
The other two pieces on this immaculate, Finnish-sourced disc are almost equally striking. The rather Birtwistle-like Voices – Still, from 2001, became a scene in Furrer’s Orpheus-themed music-theatre piece Begehren, while …Cold and Calm and Moving, for flute, harp and string trio, alternates passages of Feldman-like stillness and hypnotic obsessiveness with flurries of spidery activity – both very different; both equally intriguing.’
—Andrew Clements, Guardian
The Sunday Times :
‘Short settings of prophetic texts by Leonardo da Vinci, they accrue a large and complex declamatory power.’
—The Sunday Times
The Times :
‘TOP 100 RECORDINGS OF THE YEAR
Written for youth, the a cappella cycle “enigma I-VI” is likely to stretch any choir.’
—The Times
YLE :
‘Aikamme persoonallisimpiin ja kiinnostavimpiin säveltäjiin lukeutuvan Beat Furrerin musiikki väistää perinteen asettamia ennakko-odotuksia ja toimii aivan omilla ehdoillaan. Siitä huolimatta se on intuitiivisesti, humaanilla tavalla puhuttelevaa. Kaksi Suomen musiikkivientiin viime vuosina ansiokkaasti osallistunutta kokoonpanoa, Helsingin kamarikuoro ja Uusinta Ensemble astuvat merkittäviin saappaisiin levyttäessään Beat Furrerin teoksia kuorolle ja soitinyhtyeelle—ja onnistuvat siinä erinomaisesti. […]
Furrer vaatii esittäjiltään monitasoista virtuoosisuutta: hän vaihtaa soinnin parametreja monin eri tavoin hakien yhä uusia ja uusia sointeja ja tekstuureja. Helsingin kamarikuoro yltää parhaimpaansa Furrerin a cappella -kuorolle kirjoittamassa enigma-sarjassa, joka saa näin vaikuttavan ensilevytyksensä. Leonardo da Vincin profesiat sukeltavat soinnillisiin syvyyksiin rohkeasti ja moni-ilmeisesti.
Ensilevytyksensä niin ikään saava voices—still tuo kuoroäänet osaksi Uusinta Ensemblen soitinyhtyettä. Hengityksestä sihahduksiin, rasahduksiin, vingahduksiin, huudahduksiin, sointikenttiin ja voimakkaisiin sointijatkumoihin kurottava voices—still vaatii esittäjiltään äärimmäistä kykyä värien ja sointihahmojen erittelyyn. Helsingin kamarikuoro ja Uusinta Ensemble yltävät kapellimestari Nils Schweckendiekin tarkassa ohjauksessa teoksen vaatimuksiin tarjoillen siitä ehyen kokemuksen. Uusinta Ensemblen muusikot nautiskelevat Furrerin sointitaiteesta samaisella suvereenilla otteella säveltäjän teoksessa …cold and calm and moving huilulle, harpulle, viululle, alttoviululle ja sellolle.’
—Ville Komppa, YLE