Ekimovsky: Mirror of Avicenna

Ekimovsky believes that each new work should be new in every respect, rather than reflect linear developments in a composer's method. Hence there is no Ekimovsky "style" as such, which makes... — The Independent, 21st October 2011, 3 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 24th Oct 2011
Catalogue No: WER67292
Label: Wergo
Length: 64 minutes

Usually despatched in 3 - 4 working days

Viktor Ekimovsky: Symphonic Dances

Work length12:21

$2.00

$2.80

Mikhail Doubov, Moscow City Symphony Orchestra "Russian Philharmonic"
Oleg Chudjakow

Viktor Ekimovsky: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin

Work length11:23

$2.00

$2.80

Pekarsky Percussion Ensemble

Viktor Ekimovsky: The Mirror of Avicenna

Work length8:42

$1.50

$2.10

Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble
Alexei Vinogradov

Viktor Ekimovsky: 27 Destructions

Work length14:49

$2.00

$2.80

Pekarsky Percussion Ensemble

Viktor Ekimovsky: Attalea princeps

Work length17:23

Album only

Nazar Kozhukhar, Moscow City Symphony Orchestra “Russian Philharmonic”
Oleg Chudjakow

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Beside his preference for instrumental theatre, it is especially the principle of writing 'unique' pieces that defines the workof Russian composer Viktor Ekimovsky. Each work must embody a new and original structural idea as well as employ technical and stylistic expressive means that have not appeared in any earlier compositions. The works on this CD represent the entire spectrum of Ekimovsky's musical ideas.

A key work is "Symphonic Dances". The underlying literary programme evokes the vision of an endless dance marathon, and because of the apocalyptic reference the work appears like a 'danse macabre'. Two works for percussion were written especially for the 6 members of the Pekarsky Percussion Ensemble: "The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin" is a minimalist meditation in which Ekimovsky consciously avoids the loud and rhythmic playing that is typical of percussion instruments. His "27 Destructions" are ruled by the principle of 'destruction' which is realised by the change of rhythm, texture, melody, dynamics, tempo and instrumental colour at the junctures of the 27 different miniatures.

"The Mirror of Avicenna" is based on a common cultural archetype, the movement "From Darkness to Light". Ekimovsky who dedicated this work to himself based his work on words of the philosopher and healer Avicenna. Ekimovsky wrote the violin concerto "Attalea princeps" after reading the eponymous story by Vsevolod Garshin who had expressed his feelings of being trapped in a brutal environment.

Reviews

21st October 2011

Ekimovsky believes that each new work should be new in every respect, rather than reflect linear developments in a composer's method. Hence there is no Ekimovsky "style" as such, which makes this collection of five pieces a wild ride, switching from the brittle, Partchian percussion of "27 Destructions" to the creative ferment of "The Mirror of Avicenna".

2nd December 2011

Ekimovsky’s The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin (1989), for percussion ensemble, is almost tentatively soft, the delicately chiming sounds reminiscent of the world of American experimentalist Harry Partch. His Symphonic Dances (1993), with solo piano embedded rather than standing out, are a seething mass, as if the dissonant extremes of Edgard Varèse had been stirred and swirled and darkened.

Ekimovsky: Mirror of Avicenna

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