689 - Giya Kancheli "Little Imber"

[...] "Little Imber" is both complementary and something else entirely. A mix of choir, children's chorus, male vocal solo, and chamber ensemble, it feels both through-composed and cinematic. There are so many separate elements of style sewn together in this piece that its patchwork focus is its main unifying theme. The non-classical timbre of the male lead acts almost as narrator to the festivities that bounce from something akin to simple children's song to meditative choral elegies. A pastoral flute strain can emerge out of a hushed choral dirge, before leading the chamber ensemble back to somber sustains. The children's chorus is often placed as an almost distant, angelic refrain to the mix. "Little Imber" is also tied to war through its title, as the people in the British town of Imber were deeply affected and relocated during World War II. The children's chorus and male lead take on almost haunting roles in light of this, as if conjuring memories of those from the past.[...] Blogcritics

[...] ECM Records are honouring the work of Giya Kancheli. Regulary refered to as the greatest living Georgian composer, Kanchelli has drawn unsolicited comparisons with Arvo Pärt and John Taverner and built an oeuvre that has met with both critical acclaim and (relative) commercial ardor. On “Little Imber”, the “Nederlands Kamerkoo”r conducted by Klaas Stok, the “Rascher Saxophone Quartet”, one of the Netherlands’ most prestigious Saxophone ensembles (and that’s saying quite a bit!) as well as a long list of soloists and guests on voice and guitar dive headlong into two long choral pieces by Giya Kancheli. “Amao Omi” for mixed choir and saxophone quartet and the title track, a work for small ensemble, voice, children's and men's choirs. “Little Imber” has been described by ECM as “a ‘site-specific’ work, profoundly melancholic yet with a hint or irony, directly inspired by the English village of the same name, a ghost-town since it was evacuated and turned over to the US army for military manoeuvres in 1943.” [...] Tokafi

Nederlands Kamerkoor
Rascher Saxophone Quartet
Klaas Stok conductor
Mamuka Gaganidze voice
Zaza Miminoshvili guitar
Matrix Ensemble
Rustavi Choir
Children`s Choir
Giya Kancheli composer

More about Imber, the city (during second world war).