»Who ever said that music is ‘just’ music? To me, it is anything but that: an urge to understand and explain it all. A piece of jewelry I wear every single day. A joy that can, at times, run deep. An ever-changing imprint of millions of stitches in my heart. A longing to disappear.«
Henrik Marstal is a musician, author, and music researcher. He holds a PhD in musicology, is a senior lecturer at the Rhythmic Music Conservatory, and frequently appears in the media as an expert source on music. His areas of interest include contemporary music, such as electronic music. This winter, he will release both a new album with the pop group ibens and a book about Else Marie Pade, published by the British publishing house Bloomsbury.
Pixeleret hyldest til barokdans
Ejnar Kandings værker kan være som nat og dag, nogle gange lifligt diskrete, næsten ambiente, andre gange sludrende pladderromantiske. Men på indspilningen her af Suite résonance, et syvdelt værk fra 2015 for guitar og elektronik, lyder den forvirrede komponist, som om han aldrig har skrevet andet end stilren, elegant konciperet musik.
De syv satser fremstår som fortryllede barokdanse, forsigtigt animeret af elektroniske forvrængninger, pulseringer og kontrastvæsker. I den første af dem hører man toner, der spaltes i to liv: en nobel atonalitet i nutid og en mikrotonal forsinkelse som et musikalsk genfærd, begge dele gennemløbet af et skælmsk gemyt.
Siden udvides klangrummet med en slags druknede overtoner, opklippede beats, fejende synth og, i den dramatiske bourrée mod slutningen, lyden af et snorkende elektronisk monster, der pacificeres af en fersk vuggevise spillet med lyse flageoletter på guitaren. Det hele holdt i kort snor af Kanding, som har fundet en pirrende balance mellem stilstand og bevægelse.
Suite résonance er et værk, der med sin pixelerede hommage til barokken tematiserer tidens gang, men det giver også plads til at sætte den i stå: Bulgarske George Vassilev, der slår guitarens strenge an, sanser sig med poetisk ømhed gennem de frie skalabølger i den yndige air-sats undervejs – og hans fine vandring mellem temperamenter er med til at gøre den korte udgivelse til en overraskende spændstig og forførende størrelse.
»For me, music is at its best when it appeals to both the head and the heart. I love music that plays with language and understands how words create images, while also possessing its own unique sonic quality and mood. It’s an added bonus if the music energizes me during a run, makes me dance in the kitchen, or makes me laugh. Or cry. Music can be like a chocolate-coated marshmallow treat with a surprise inside.«
Lone Hørslev is an author of poetry, novels, and song lyrics, as well as the TV series Den gode stemning. Together with Mads Mouritz, she forms one half of the Mouritz/Hørslev Project, and she recently wrote lyrics for the musical theatre production STOLT in collaboration with Katrine Muff. The songs can be found on the album Jeg ønsker mig.