New compositions for chamber orchestra
The name of this CD volXmusik InnStrumented of the Tyrolean Chamber Orchestra InnStrumenti is also the program: Every composition is, in one way or another, an encounter between contemporary “classical” music and folk music. As a result, these compositions trace in a special way an arc of sound originating in regions that are still characterized by (alpine) folk music today:
Werner Pirchner (1940-2001) is without a doubt the Austrian testimonial for the arrangement of folk music traditions in the second half of the twentieth century. His 100 practical compositions for a good orchestra was planned as a modular long-term project that he was unable to complete. The composer himself compiled 13 of the 25 pieces of the collection by the time of his death into a suite that makes Pirchner’s personal style audible in all its witty, creative facets.
The acclaimed South Tyrolean composer Eduard Demetz (*1958) chooses the accordion as a basic Alpine instrument to create sounds which, in partnership with those of the clarinet and bass clarinet in Paravis are alienated by means of live electronics. Luka Juhart brilliantly masters the highly demanding solo part on the accordion.
The East Tyrolean musician and composer, Romed Hopfgartner (*1976), presents with his Weltliche Suite the only concerto for Steirische Harmonika (Styrian accordion) and chamber orchestra to date. Franz Posch, one of Austria’s best-known musicians in the genre of folk music, could be won over to play the solo part of the four movement suite.
The sounds created by the native Carinthian, Bruno Strobl (*1949), are more avant-garde; in fact, he incorporates folk music-like features in his piece PAW, but liberates the zither as a solo instrument completely out of the traditional context of folk music by applying numerous new virtuoso playing techniques which the experienced soloist Martin Mallaun competently masters.