Reseña Musical | Obras de Max Richter

Perfil

Max Richter es el músico representativo, la figura principal y el pionero de la música postclásica actual y de las escenas clásicas contemporáneas. Es un compositor, multiinstrumentista y productor musical británico nacido en Alemania. En activo desde mediados de los 90, ha producido e interpretado diversos géneros y tipos de música, como álbumes de estudio, actuaciones experimentales, ballet y numerosas partituras cinematográficas y música para televisión. Y miembro del grupo de seis pianistas, el repertorio del grupo es Música Clásica Contemporánea y Mínima, “Piano Circus”.

Sus características son la mezcla de la Música Clásica ortodoxa y su forma de composición e instrumentos, y las tecnologías electrónicas e informáticas. Especialmente la composición de cuerda con pads y secuencias de sintetizador, y ruidos electrónicos.

Algunos pianistas ya interpretaban sus composiciones como “música clásica”.

Álbumes en solitario

The Blue Notebooks (130701, 2004 / Deutsche Grammophon, 2014)

“The Blue Notebooks” es el segundo álbum de Max Richter publicado en 2004 y el tema es una protesta por la invasión de Irak en 2003 y una meditación sobre la violencia y la guerra. Este álbum recoge las lecturas de “Los cuadernos azules” de Franz Kafka, “Himno de la perla” y “Tierra inalcanzable” de Czesław Miłosz.

“Sobre la naturaleza de la luz del día” es una canción para cuarteto de cuerda mínima y significativa, sin melodía aparente. Esta canción podría ser la principal de este álbum, creo que una de las mejores composiciones de Mac Richter.

“Shadow Journal” comienza con ruidos de tipógrafo, un arpegio de lectura y pad. Le sigue un slo de violín, ruidos electrónicos, arpegio de piano, cuerdas y un timbal. Una canción hermosa y misteriosa.

“Organum” es un tema atmosférico compuesto por pad(s) de sintetizador muy modulados y un piano, y protagonizado por un tono muy agudo y un agudo pad de sintetizador.

“The Trees” es una canción misteriosa y malancólica con arpegios de piano y pasajes de cuerda. La obra se vuelve gradualmente apasionada.

“Horizon Variations”, “Vladimir Blues”, “Written on the Sky” y “A Catalogue of Afternoons” son buenas piezas cortas para piano solo.

Song from Before (FatCat Records, 2006 / Deutsche Grammophon, 2014)

“Song from Before” es un álbum post-clásico de Max Richter. La característica de este álbum son las combinaciones de instrumentos clásicos conjunto de cuerda y piano, y tecnologías electrónicas y sintetizadores. Algunas canciones contienen lecturas de citas de novelas de Haruki Murakami, son rojas de Robert Wyatt.

“Flowers for You” es una composición sencilla, patética y significativa, que consta de cuerdas, pads de sintetizador y ruidos electrónicos.

“Harmonium” presenta un pad de sintetizador y sus reflejos con frases de glockenspiel como música ambiental.

“Autumn Music” es una composición elegante y melancólica para quinteto de piano. Un piano interpreta únicamente arpegios de fondo. Las cuerdas tocan melodías y se cruzan.

“Sunlight” es una canción de quinteto de cuerdas patética y también apasionada.

“Autumn Music 2”, como la “1”, es una composición elegante y melancólica de piano solo.

“From the Rue Vilin” y “Leo” son hermosas piezas cortas de piano minimalista basadas en arpegios.

infra (2010, Deutsche Grammophon)

“infra” de Max Richter es un Post-clásico y Electrónica, contiene varios tipos y gustos de pistas. Un álbum experimental también ortodoxo y clásico también incluye elementos de Ambient, Minimal Music y Noise Music.

Los instrumentos principales son conjunto(s) de cuerdas, un piano y sintetizadores. Casi todas las pistas están muy moduladas por efectos y se les añaden ruidos electrónicos y ambientales. Es una mezcla única de música clásica y sonido experimental.

“infra 1” es una canción atmosférica como Ambient de pads de sintetizador, ruidos ambientales y cuerdas.

“journey 1” es una canción de arpegios de piano y ruidos electrónicos.

“Infra 2”, en la grabación, un arpegio de pads de sintetizador y cruces de instrumentos de cuerda.

“journey 4” es una impresionante canción de emsenble minimal de cuerda.

“journey 5” es una canción minimalista de cuerdas como Phillip Glass, pero en la última parte el sonido de las cuerdas está distorsionado y sobrecargado de efectos.

“infra 8” es una impresionante composición grandiosa y solitaria de conjunto de cuerdas.

SLEEP: Tranquility Base (2023, Deutsche Grammophon)

“SLEEP: Tranquility Base” de Max Richter es una música para dormir, y un álbum de variaciones de estilo Post-clásico.

Temas y frases de sabor clásico o de folklore celta se interpretan por el método de la Música Mínima. Richter debe tocar un órgano y sintetizador(es), muchos invitados tocan instrumentos de cuerda, secuencias pads y bases de sintetizadores, y una base eléctrica, una cantante femenina canta vocalises.

Entre cada pista no hay intervalo. No puedo escuchar las divisiones mientras se escucha. Cada parte se inserta por fade in lentamente y sale por fade out lentamente.

Un trabajo único, impresionante, tranquilo, clásico y moderno, post-clásico. He asociado este álbum con obras de Steve Reich, Mike Oldfield y Tangerine Dream.

Recursos y enlaces

Max Richter Official Website

Deutsche Grammophon – Max Richter

Decca Publishing – Max Richter

Max Richter – Wise Music Classical

Wikipedia (EN)

AllMusic

Discogs

Rate Your Music

Pitchfork

Facebook Page

X (former Twitter)

Instagram

Max Richter – Sleep

Max Richter | The New Four Seasons

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Music Review | Works of Max Richter

Profile

Max Richter is the representative musician, the leading figure and the pioneer of today’s Post-classical music and the Contemporary Classical scenes. He is German born, British composer, multi-instrumentalist and music producer. He is active from the middle of 90’s, produced and performed various genres and types of music such as studio recording albums, experimental performances, ballet, and many cinema scores and music for television. And a member of the six pianist group, the repertory of the group is Contemporary Classic and Minimal Music, “Piano Circus”.

His characteristics is mixture of the orthodox Classical Music and its way of composition and instruments, and electronic and computer technologies. Especially the string composition with synthesizer pads and sequences, and electronic noises.

Already his compositions were played as “Classical Music” by some pianists.

Solo Albums

The Blue Notebooks (130701, 2004 / Deutsche Grammophon, 2014)

“The Blue Notebooks” is the second album of Max Richter released in 2004 and the theme is a protest for 2003 invasion of Iraq and a meditation for violence and war. This album features the readings of “The Blue Octavo Notebooks” by Franz Kafka, “Hymn of the Pearl” and “Unattainable Earth” by Czesław Miłosz.

“On the Nature of Daylight” is a minimal and significant string quartet song with no apparent melody. This song might be the main song of this album, I think one of best compositions of Mac Richter.

“Shadow Journal” begins with type writer noises, a reading and pad arpeggio. A violin slo, electronic noises, piano arpeggio, strings and a timpani follows. A beautiful and mysterious song.

“Organum” is atmospheric track is consist of highly modulated synthesizer pad(s) and a piano, and a very high tone and keen synthesiser pad play a lead part.

“The Trees” is mysterious and malancholic song by piano arpeggios and strings passages. The plays gradually become passionate.

“Horizon Variations”, “Vladimir Blues”, “Written on the Sky” and “A Catalogue of Afternoons” is good short piano solo pieces.

Song from Before (FatCat Records, 2006 / Deutsche Grammophon, 2014)

“Song from Before” is a Post-classical album of Max Richter. The feature of this album is combinations of Classical instruments string ensemble and piano, and electronics technologies and synthesisers. Some songs contains readings of quotations of novels of Haruki Murakami, are red by Robert Wyatt.

“Flowers for You” is a simple pathetic and significant composition, which is consist of strings, synthesizer pads and electronic noises.

“Harmonium” features a synth pad and its reflections with glockenspiel phrases like Ambient music.

“Autumn Music” is a piano quintet elegant and melancholic composition. A piano solely plays arpeggio backings. Strings play melodies and they cross.

“Sunlight” is a pathetic also passionate strings quintet song.

“Autumn Music 2”, like the “1”, is a piano solo elegant and melancholic composition.

“From the Rue Vilin” and “Leo” are short beautiful arpeggio based minimal piano pieces.

infra (2010, Deutsche Grammophon)

“infra” by Max Richter is a Post-classical and Electronica, contains various types and tastes of tracks. An experimental also orthodox and classical album it also includes elements of Ambient, Minimal Music and Noise Music.

Main instruments are string ensemble(s), a piano and synthesizers. Almost tracks are highly modulated by effects and are attached electronic and environmental noises. It’s a unique mixture of Classical Music and experimental sound.

“infra 1” is a atmospheric song like Ambient of synthesizer pads, environmental noises and strings.

“journey 1” is a song of piano arpeggios and electronic noises.

“Infra 2”, on the recording, a synthesizer pad arpeggio and string instruments crosses.

“journey 4” is an impressive apathetic minimal string emsenble song.

“journey 5” is a minimal strings song like Phillip Glass, but the later part strings sound is distorted and overloaded by effects.

“infra 8” is an impressive grandiose and solitary strings ensemble composition.

SLEEP: Tranquility Base (2023, Deutsche Grammophon)

“SLEEP: Tranquility Base” by Max Richter is a music for sleeping, and an album of Post-classical style variations.

Classical or Celtic Folk tastes theme and phrases are played by the method of Minimal Music. Richter must play an organ and synthesizer(s), many guests play string instruments, sequences pads and bases of synthesizers, and an electric base, a female singer sings vocalises.

Between each track there are no interval. I can’t listen the divides while listening. Each part inset by fade in slowly and come out by fade out slowly.

A very unique, impressive, calm, Classical and modern, Post-classical work. I associated this album with works of Steve Reich, Mike Oldfield and Tangerine Dream.

Resources & Links

Max Richter Official Website

Deutsche Grammophon – Max Richter

Decca Publishing – Max Richter

Max Richter – Wise Music Classical

Wikipedia (EN)

AllMusic

Discogs

Rate Your Music

Pitchfork

Facebook Page

X (former Twitter)

Instagram

Max Richter – Sleep

Max Richter | The New Four Seasons

List of All Music Reviews
Post-classical, New Age, Ambient, Minimal Music, Electronica
(English, Deutsch, Français, Español, Italiano)

Jean-Michel Serres Apfel Café Music QR Codes Center English 2024.

Music Review | Works of Ólafur Arnalds

Profile

Ólafur Arnalds is one of representative musicians in today’s Post-classical music scene, is from Mosfellsbær, Iceland and now lives in Reykjavík.

Solo Albums

Eulogy for Evolution (Erased Tape, 2007)

“Eulogy for Evolution” is an early work of Ólafur Arnalds. The songs are Classical also modern and minimal (But it isn’t Minimal Music) that make use of space and intervals among instruments, and effects of ensemble. On his compositions, there’s no clear theme and minute melody.

“Boundaries” is a slow, beautiful but splendid piano quartet song.

“The Engine” is a good song features passionate strings.

“Kistch” is a simple but grandiose and passionate song. The plays of strings are impressive and vivid.

“3055” is a melancholic and elegant song with splendid violin melodies, a piano accompaniment and reflection noises. Then the drum follows and become a dynamic instrumental Pop song.

“Vemeer” begins a silent piano passages but it expands Heavy Metal song with very distorted guitar, then suddenly the guitar is cut out ends with strings calmly.

…And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness (Erased Tapes, 2010)

“…And They Have Escaped The Weight Of Darkness” is a Post-classical album. It contains songs of various arrangement styles. The concept of this album is a crossover between Classical and Pop or Rock. He made the album for the wide range of listeners.

“Tunglið” is a passionate piano and strings song, a drum kit follows.

“Loftið verður skyndilega kalt” is an impressive sophisticated Minimal Music piano quintet composition with few notes.

“Kjurrt” is also a Minimal Music piano quintet composition with fewer notes.

“Gleypa okkur” is an orthodox piano quintet composition with drums and an electric base. The next song “Hægt, kemur ljósið” is more passionate one includes a keen tone synthesizer pad solo.

“Undan hulu” is a simple composition with piano arpeggios with cello melodies.

“þau Hafa Sloppið Undan þunga Myrkursins” is a melancholic also refleshing piano quartet composition, drums follows in the later part.

“Hratt” is a mysterious and wonderful, Folk taste ensemble song with a electric piano and drums.

A very nice and typical Post-classical album.

For Now I Am Winter (Mercury, 2013)

“Sudden Throw” is an apathetic song of pad and Pino backing. In later part strings, bass guitar follows and become very dynamic and suddenly ends.

“Brim” is Electronic with drum sample loops, piano arpeggios, sequences and strings ensemble melodies.

“For Now I Am Winter” is a sorrowful Post-classical and Electronica style vocal song with strings, piano electronic drum loop accompaniments.

“A Stutter” is a non-rhythem apathetic vocal song with strings, piano and pads.

“Words of Amber” is a track like Ambient which is consist of piano arpeggios, slight, vague pads and electronic pulses.

“Reclaim” is a significant and grandiose vocal song with a bold and avid string orchestra. Later part drum sample loops follows.

“Only the Winds” is a sentimental also hopeful but brave song with piano, string ensemble and drums.

“Old Skin” is an English Folk mood vocal Pop song beings with a vocal and piano, later part, electronic drums and strings synthesizers follow.

“This Place Was a Shelter” is sad and significant Electronica with impressive sold string ensemble, synth sequences, pads and electronic drums.

“Carry Me Anew” is a silent pad solo like Ambient.

A good Post-classical and Electronica album combines vocals, electronic and acoustic instruments, and contains various style and formations of songs.

Island Songs (Mercury KX, 2016)

“Island Songs” is the Post-classical album by Ólafur Arnalds. It’s consist of seven songs, and in each song, it collaborates with a musician and/or an ensemble.

“Árbakkinn” is sentimental and apathetic song, which begins with a narration or a poetry reading and piano, then string ensemble follows.

“1995” is a minimal also serious composition with repetitions of a motif by organ, and string ensemble accompaniment.

“Raddir” is a song like Choral of sacred chorus with organ, electric bass and some string instruments.

“Öldurót” is a grandiose composition with an impressive strings arrangement, is consist of string orchestra, oboe and electric bass with electric piano backing.

“Dalur” is a melancholic song features piano arpeggios, with some strings and percussions accompaniment and tape noises.

“Particles” is a female vocal Ballad song with piano chord backings and strings chords.

“Doria” is a wonderful minimal Classical composition. It begins with fine piano arpeggios. Strings and another piano melodies and chords follow.

“Study for Player Piano (II)” is a miserable and melancholic mood minimal piano piece.

A good acoustic Post-classical album of various styles and the melancholic and apathetic mood.

re:member (Mercurey KX, 2018)

“re:member” is a Post-classical or Electronica album by Ólafur Arnalds.

The title track “re:member” is a refreshing piano and strings song, but the later part an organic electronic drum kit, and electric base and voice synthesizer pad take part in.

“samen” is an arpeggio based very good minimal piano piece. My favourite song.

“brot” is a sacred song like a choral consist of beutiful strings and synthesizer pads.

“they sink” is a silent Electronica track with piano collages and strings.

“ypsilon” is a piano arpeggio and backing based calm Electronica song with cute percussions.

“partial” is a beautiful song is consist of strings, synthesizer pad and impressive synthesizer sequence arpeggios. The synthesizer sequence must be made by Arnalds’ own making plugin “STRATUS”.

“momentary” is a very tiny but precious short piano solo piece.

“undir” is a sentimental and refreshing and bright minimal song features a fragmental piano and swinging electronic drums.

“ekki hugsa” is a wonderful, refreshing and bright minimal song features arpeggios of strings. Then the later part, it expands dynamic with synthesizer pads and arpeggios and an electronic base.

“nyepi” is a simple apathetic piano piece is composed by few tones.

He did experiments in each track, and this album is full volume album in the length and the contents, you can enjoy various styles and tastes his production. And this album is one of the fruits of Arnalds’ career.

Some Kind of Peace (2020, Mercury KX)

A Post-classical and Electronica album features some guest musicians.

“Loom” is a short electronic track features Bonobo.

“Woven Song” is Classical also experimental song, is consist of a motif by violin, strings chords accompaniment, later part strings become dynamic and piano fragmental accompaniment follows.

“Still / Sound” is a silent Electronica song with electric piano, chorus sample and electronic noises. Later part small string ensemble replaces them.

“Back to The Sky” is melancholic vocal song features an Icelandic singer JFDR (Jófríður Ákadóttir). The song associates songs of Bjork. It’s consist of synthesizer pad, strings electric piano and electronic percussions.

“Zero” is a Post-classical tracks like Ambient. It begins with few tones piano and strings chords. In the middle part, strings sound become bold by filter and/or delay effects.

“New Grass” is a sorrowful also grandiose traditional composition. It consist of piano arpeggio and string orchestra.

“The Bottom Line” is a serious Pop style vocal song features a German singer-songwriter Josin. The songs is her vocal with piano arpeggios, and string orchestra. Later part electric bass and electric percussions follow.

“We Contain Multitudes” is a solitary and apathetic piano piece.

“Undone” is melancholic and apathetic song with fragmental piano and glockenspiel and string orchestra passages.

Resources and Links

Ólafur Arnalds (official site)

MERCURY KX – Ólafur Arnalds

Erased Tapes – Ólafur Arnalds

Spitfire Audio – Ólafur Arnalds

Bandcamp

Wikipedia (EN)

Discogs

AllMuisc

Facebook Page

X (former Twitter)

Instagram

List of All Music Reviews
Post-classical, New Age, Ambient, Minimal Music, Electronica
(English, Deutsch, Français, Español, Italiano)

Jean-Michel Serres Apfel Café Apfelsaft Cinéma Music QR Codes Spotify YouTube Apple Music Center English.