Search - Composer: Gerard Grisey, Conductor: Stefan Asbury, Performer: WDR Sinfonieorchester Koln :: Gérard Grisey: Les Espaces Acoustiques

Exceptional Music from an Iconoclast

Stiofain de Fíníneach | 12/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I picked up this collection to become better acquainted with the so called

Spectralist school of composition. As more often is the case, trying to pigeon hole the work of Grisey into such categorical descriptives seems to be a great disservice to such an inimitable maverick - yes, a true pioneer.

Further, I'm a bit nonplussed that I went through Graduate School and Grisey's name was never mentioned by any of my teachers - perhaps a monumental oversight, or merely a testament to the fact that Grisey's music isn't as well known as it should be. I think a combination of both factors apply in this case.

Grisey's work examines sound, timbral production, and perception in one of the most comprehensive and successful fashions. These works are all engrossing: from Prologue on the first disc - a fantastic sonic journey for solo viola, to the most exceptional piece in this collection, Transitoires, for large orchestra, you'll find an abundance of new ideas written in a highly personalized musical language, which hammers yet another nail into the dead-end, pompous, academic obsession with post-modernism - this is anything but.

Grisey's abilities as an orchestrator are mind bogglingly refined and uncompromisingly original. His ability to conjure alien sounds and organize his ideas in a compelling fashion is a testament to this extraordinary talent. When listening to Tranisitoires, I was convinced that there was an omission in the liner notes and computer generated sounds were present. However, he accomplishes this through a thorough examination of the manipulation of timbral properties and subtle instrumental gesturing.

All in all, words can not service the mind and ear nearly as well as Grisey's music. This is a MUST HAVE collection of pieces for anyone willing to take the leap into the sound world of a true compositional wonder."