Pavol Simai • Key CD
1-3 “Bridges” – a sextet for woodwind quintet and piano (1992)
4 “Facing Death” for French horn and percussion (1995)
In remembrance of Auschwitz in a 50-year retrospect. “Facing Death” is constructed as a dialogue between the horn and the percussionist. The latter works with drum rolls, bells and a cymbal. It’s a dramatic piece of short duration, like a signal to everybody to stop, listen and think, like the alarm that sounds every year in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in remembrance of the bomb.
5 “Sisyfos” for piano (1984)
Rapid and lively temperament again, rushing of in a brilliant execution of chords, having the pianist work hard up and down the keyboard. However, the mood changes, and a swaying, back-and-forth moving, swing-like event appears, until splashes of ebony and ivory, in the vein of Ligeti’s “Etudes”, punctuates the rocking force and quickly draws a new map of directions for the bewildering passage through the tapestry of sound that Pavol Simai offers.
6-9 “Cartoons” for woodwind quintet (1990)
10-12 “Clarisson” for clarinet and piano (1980 / 1996)
13 “Nordron” for symphonic band (1997)
The Prague Woodwind Quintet, The Kroumata Percussion Ensemble, Göteborgsmusiken, B. Tommy Andersson (cond.), Daniel Wiesner (piano), Fredrik Ullén (piano), Per Tengstrand (piano), Sören Hermansson (French horn), Martin Fröst (clarinet)
PHONO SUECIA, Duration: 72:06
