Scelsi Edition Volume 9: The Works for Viola

Listen on Presto Music. Free thirty day trial. Find out more.

The demands placed on the soloist [in Three Studies] are immense, often requiring several different playing techniques to be used simultaneously, but Vincent Royer's performances are immaculate. — The Guardian, 1st September 2011, 3 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 1st Aug 2011
Catalogue No: mode231
Label: Mode
Series: Scelsi Edition
Length: 57 minutes

Scelsi: Manto I

Work length3:48

$1.00

$1.30

Vincent Royer

Scelsi: Manto II

Work length3:44

$1.00

$1.30

Vincent Royer

Scelsi: Manto

Work length2:58

$1.00

$1.30

Vincent Royer

III. —

Track length2:58

$1.00

$1.30

Scelsi: Coelocanth

Work length11:00

$3.00

$3.90

Vincent Royer

I. —

Track length3:02

$1.00

$1.30

II. —

Track length3:08

$1.00

$1.30

III. —

Track length4:50

$1.00

$1.30

Scelsi: Elegia per Ty

Work length10:32

$3.00

$3.90

Vincent Royer, Séverine Ballon

I. —

Track length4:07

$1.00

$1.30

II. —

Track length3:27

$1.00

$1.30

III. —

Track length2:58

$1.00

$1.30

Scelsi: 3 Studies (Version for Viola)

Work length13:50

$3.00

$3.90

Vincent Royer

No. 1, —

Track length5:21

$1.00

$1.30

No. 2, —

Track length4:37

$1.00

$1.30

No. 3, —

Track length3:52

$1.00

$1.30

Scelsi: Xnoybis (Arr. for Viola)

Work length11:19

$3.00

$3.90

Vincent Royer

I. —

Track length3:51

$1.00

$1.30

II. —

Track length3:50

$1.00

$1.30

III. —

Track length3:38

$1.00

$1.30

About
Reviews
Explore

About

Volume 9 of Mode’s Scelsi Edition is devoted to the first complete recording of Giacinto Scelsi’s works for viola solo and duo.

Manto was a prophet in ancient Greece. Scelsi translated her oracle maxims into cryptic phonemes which the viola player has to sing simultaneously in the third movement. In Manto, the sound of the viola is expanded and explored via experimental playing techniques. This is the first recording of the third movement with male voice, sung by Vincent Royer.

In Xnoybis, Scelsi’s exploration “into the inside of the sound” is taken to its extreme. A central tone, variously coloured and surrounded, moves in microtonal steps — no melody in the traditional sense, but a sole wandering sound. Again this is the first recording of the viola version in a transcription by Vincent Royer.

Elegia per Ty for viola and violoncello is Scelsi’s tender rememberance of his former wife Dorothy (nicknamed 'Ty'). It is among his most important chamber works.

Coelocanth (1955) and the Three Studies (1956) belong to Scelsi’s earlier style of composing. Concise motivic gestures are developed by improvisation. These expressive, virtuoso pieces are overwhelming in their ecstatic ferocity. First recording of the Three Studies.

Violist Vincent Royer is one of the most outstanding performers of contemporary music today. Born in France but now living in Cologne, Germany, he is among a handful of musicians who have truly mastered the works of the Spectral composers, such as Gerard Grisey. In his hands, these challenging and complex works give way to new forms of musical expression that are mysterious, powerful and filled with beautiful colours. A key to his deep understanding of new music is his close collaboration with living composers, like Horatiu Radulescu and Tristan Murail, two important composers with whom Royer has enjoyed close working relationships.

Reviews

1st September 2011

The demands placed on the soloist [in Three Studies] are immense, often requiring several different playing techniques to be used simultaneously, but Vincent Royer's performances are immaculate.

Scelsi Edition Volume 9: The Works for Viola

Downloads

Contents

Download queue