SOUNDTRACK: MAX RICHTER-Tiny Desk Concert #936 (January 22, 2020).
Max Richter is a composer and pianist. His music is emotional and even more so when you know what has inspired it.
The first piece “On The Nature Of Daylight” was written as a response to the 2003 Iraq War.
In Daylight, which has been effectively used in movies such as Arrival and Shutter Island, a simple theme rolls out slowly in the low strings until a violin enters with a complimentary melody in a higher register. Richter, at the keyboard, adds a subterranean bass line for added gravitas, while high above another violin soars sweetly, mournfully. With all elements interlocked – and sensitively played by members of the American Contemporary Music Ensemble [Clarice Jensen: cello & artistic director; Ben Russell, violin; Laura Lutzke, violin; Isabel Hagen, viola; Claire Bryant, cello] – the piece gently sways, building in intensity. It all adds up to a six-minute emotional journey that, if you open yourself to the sounds, can leave you wrung out.
The music reminds me of the kind of repeating motifs you might hear in someone like Michael Nyman.
In between the two emotional string-filled pieces, he plays a solo piano piece called “Vladimir’s Blues.”
Its delicately toggling chords are an homage to novelist Vladimir Nabokov who, in his spare time, was a respected lepidopterist, obsessed with a subfamily of gossamer-winged butterflies called the blues. Richter plays the piano with the practice pedal engaged for a warm, muted sound.
The final piece, “Infra 5” is a ballet that he composed as
a meditation on the 2005 terrorist subway bombings in London… he counters violence with calming, thoughtful music.
This piece is much like the first in that it is beautiful and repetitive and thought-provoking. This one is interesting because Richter does not play on it. He just stands there and listens, no doubt deep in thought.
Richter is a truly amazing contemporary composer and his music is just wonderful.
[READ: January 23, 2020] Giant Days Early Registration
I found out recently that there is an end to Giant Days. In fact I believe it has already ended, but there are still three or so collections left to come out.
When a beloved (and award winning) series nears its end, it is time to put out early issues and special features collections. Usually they come once the series has ended, but this one has come early.
Early Registration is a collection of the first self-published comics that John Allison made of our heroes Daisy, Esther and Susan. This book is drawn by him (in the style that I initially preferred although I have now come to love Max Sarin so much that these pictures look weird).
This book begins with Esther’s parents sending her off to college (I didn’t realize until recently that Esther de Groot was in Allison’s previous comic Scary Go Round and that this is a spin off of sorts. I don’t know that comic but am sure looking forward to reading it. (more…)
I Just Read About That... 