Video, Klas Nevrin Ensemble
Live at Umeå Jazzstudio
Umeå 6th March 2014
Quasi-Flamenco
The first part of this composition is a modal microtonal blues, inspired by Ben Johnston’s microtonal pieces for piano. It is based on a 13/4 interpretation of a Flamenco rhythm. The second part is more flowing and melodious, played in Equal Temperament, and relies on a 5/4+7/4 bass ostinato.
Revamped
After a forceful duo with drums and sax, the first part consists of a free-tonal polyphonic melody. In the second “postminimalist” part this melodic material transforms into multilayered assymmetric vamps (not in video).
Marvellous Lou
This composition uses microtonal material inspired by Lou Harrison (1917-2003). It mixes a diatonic mode in just intonation and a pentatonic “Pelog” scale from Indonesian Gamelan music.
Progressions in D
This piece is inspired by the beautifully subtle compositions of Jimmy Giuffre (1921-2008). It uses both modal and tonal progressions in D, and then extends them free-tonally.
Emersonian Cadenzas
Violin and piano start out improvising with ideas from the second movement of Charles Ives’s groundbreaking “Piano Sonata Nr. 2 , Concord, Mass., 1840–60″ - also known as the “Concord Sonata” – from 1911-1915. The movement is called “Emerson” after the writer Ralph Waldo Emerson. The middle part is collectively improvised by the whole group, after which we end with György Ligeti’s beautiful piece “Musica Ricercata nr.7″ (1951-53), originally composed for piano.
Riley’s Camel
Freely based on a microtonal scale (Dorian scale in a 7-limit system) from Terry Riley’s minimalist composition/improvisation “Shri Camel” (1975-78). Riley originally performed on a modified and retuned Yamaha YC-45D combo organ.
Chopinesque
A homage to Romantic pianist-improvisers, from Beethoven to Chopin! It starts with an improvised piano solo based on ideas from various sonatas and etudes. The piece then moves through a format that reminds of classical piano concerto, with the piano improvisation continuing while accompanied by the others. Finally it culminates in a fast folksong-like melody.
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Also go here for video with vocalist/cellist Audrey Chen (USA/Berlin) and violinist Anna Lindal (SWE) from a concert at Glenn Miller Café in May 2014.