Album Notes

On their first CD, the Simurg Ensemble offers 9 compositions by pianist Robert Weirauch:
1) De Profundis - (bass) clarinet, cello & contrabass. Starting "out of the depths", the music struggles for peace and harmony, which are finally reached in a drawn-out coda. The use of quarter tones and the three dark-timbred instruments give the piece extra weight and intensity
2) Fantasie Fatale - a virtuoso piece, highlighting the clarinet. There's a lot of eastern European influences (both classical and folk), as well as some Rachmaninov
3) Herbst - voice, cello & piano. Poetry by Rainer Maria Rilke. A very quiet and introspective piece, inspired by the music of George Crumb. Guest appearance by mezzosoprano Regula Boeninger
4) Golem - The sound is very Jewish, klezmer-style; slow recitativo-style verses, heavy and brooding intermezzi and fast dance refrains
5) Narcissus - solo cello and optional dancer, based on the myth of Narcissus and Echo
6) Bolero - for contrabass (fifths tuning) and piano. In one tempo, with one relentless rhythm, the piece builds up towards a rather massive and noisy ending
7) Kunkelsuse - text: Fritz Grasshoff. A fast and cheeky cabaret song about the rather promiscuous Suse, who beds every man in sight. Featuring Regula Boeninger
8) Schwüler Sonntag - more Grasshoff; a slow song describing the humidity and heat of a summer afternoon. Featuring Regula Boeninger
9) Volver - a fast tango, light and "poppy", with an odd 15/16 beat middle part