GMG Classical Music Forum

The Music Room => Composer Discussion => Topic started by: Lethevich on June 14, 2008, 12:29:06 PM

Title: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: Lethevich on June 14, 2008, 12:29:06 PM
Due to an unprecidented three other people on this forum who like his music, I figure we could begin a thread to centralise any Tüür talk ;D Massively mini bio with staggeringly rudimentary music analysis by myself:

Born in Estonia, land of Tubin, Pärt and Sumera in 1959, Erkki-Sven Tüür represents a more recent generation of contemporary composers than the one which is currently beginning to die. His music is accessable (a loaded term if ever there was one), drawing influences from minimalists, the baroque, and other modernists, but importantly it doesn't come across as merely a series of collages or pastiches. Generally the music is of a naturalistic quality which doesn't evoke emotions in the romantic way (there is little romanticism in the music at all), but many moments of tonal beauty can be found amongst the ebbing and scurrying textures in his orchestral music. The strong structure of all of his works are another thing which can help get a hook on a few of the more difficult works.

His Architectonics pieces for ensembles of various sizes are the most experimental of his works, not in terms of any avant-garde qualities, but freely incorporating his many influences in a more colourful and varied pieces without the requirement for them having to feel unified in any way. There are passing elements of jazz, minimalism, rock, baroque, and pretty much everything sucked into these works, resulting in the two discs dedicated only to these pieces being fascinating and colourful listening. His works for string orchestra are where he can be found closest to some of his contemporaries from the Baltic region - superficial comparisons can be made to Vasks, Pärt, Górecki, etc, but the effect is less romanticised than Vasks or Górecki, as well as being in no way overtly religious.

Recomended discs:

Magma (Virgin)
Works: Symphony No.4, The Path and the Traces, Inquiétude du Fini, Igavik
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41LTSBALKmL._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/T%C3%BC%C3%BCr-Magma-Erkki-Sven-Tuur/dp/B000LPRNV8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1213468859&sr=1-1)

The most important reason for recommending this one is its current price. This retails as a full price in its RRP, but Amazon marketplace (both US and UK) are flooded with cheap copies, making this cheaper than a Naxos disc to buy new. It looks like it's going to remain this way as well, as the prices have been like this for a long time now. The 4th symphony is a major work, it is essentially a percussion concerto in one movement and should be treated as such. It is on an unusually large scale, and interesting to hear such a diverse array of instruments so well played. Another strong selling point of this disc is the choral works. His choral music is under-represented on CD, so these are important additions, even if Igavik is quite short. Inquiétude du Fini is wonderful, and shows how his writing had matured since Ante Finem Saeculi of 7 years before - it retains the same formula of superb writing for voice, and creating propulsive sections underpinned by lean string playing to keep the lengthy piece ticking over, but they feel more integrated into the texture of the music than before.

Misc works (Apex)
Works: Symphony No.2, Conversio, Lighthouse, Architechtonics III & IV
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516TSRKCR1L._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Tuur-Symphony-Lighthouse-Architectonics-Conversio/dp/B00009RAXM/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1213468859&sr=1-3)

This is the only "budget" disc of Tüür's music, containing reissues from multiple Finlandia discs. Unfortunately Warner couldn't be bothered to reissue the other stuff on another disc, which makes finding the original Finlandia discs a priority before they become horribly expensive. If you can find one cheaply, grab it :) Symphony No.2 is rather more lean and mean than his sophisticated orchestral works from the late 90s, but enjoyable for that. Quite dissonant, but containing many recognisable fingerprints, the rather feral nature leaves me a little exausted after listening - evoking to me the image of something elemental, rocks being formed, tectonic plates, big stuff! Conversio is one of his works more obviously influenced by minimalism. It resembles the American school during its first half, especially the teasing way that the theme repeats and repeats before the inenvitable burst into the theme in its "final" form. Like Reich, the music shifts into slightly uneasy territory by the end, but by then its traces of minimalism have more or less evaporated.

Flux (ECM)
Works: Symphony No.3, Cello Concerto, Lighthouse
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31DrEmmDU4L._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Erkki-Sven-T%C3%BC%C3%BCr-Flux-Tuur/dp/B0000244W6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1213468859&sr=1-4)

Due to their price, I will restrict myself to recommending only two of the four ECM discs as initial choices. This contains probably his most well-known piece, the 3rd symphony, and it encapsulates his style of orchestral writing. By now the harshness and some of the tension of the 2nd symphony have gone, and the rest has been refined into an organic style in which climaxes are build up rather than forced. The occasional atonal moments in brass attacks remain, but they are better integrated, and accompanied by attractive melodies which were previously absent. An example is the building string theme from 8 minutes onwards in the second movement which recalls a Sumera symphony (no.2 I think?). Delicate use of percussion is spread throughout which gives the more contemplative moments a further impression of a light touch which previously did not exist in his orchestral music. The cello concerto is very much in this mould, and as such is a perfect complimentary piece to the symphony. As a result this disc doesn't neccessaraly demonstrate Tüür's full range, but it documents his "standard" style very well.

Oxymoron (ECM)
Works: Marimba Concerto "Ardor", Dedication, Oxymoron, Salve Regina
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/419wN3V7rXL._SL500_AA240_.jpg) (http://www.amazon.com/Oxymoron/dp/B0013KFCTA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_6?ie=UTF8&s=dmusic&qid=1213470443&sr=8-6)

This disc covers a much wider range than Flux does - Oxymoron is scored for a large (and slightly idiosyncratic) ensemble including synthesizer and piano. It resembles his Architectronics pieces, but in a more "symphonic" sweep. Dedication is a great piece for cello and piano, and comes close to the sparse emotive music produced by Pärt and Co. It's a very attractive piece and I can only hope that there are more like this awaiting recording. Ardor as as fun as a marimba concerto can be :P It's on quite a large scale (25 mins) and due to the nature of the instrument contains rather less struggle than some of his other orchestral works. The range of the instrument is well exploited and impressively played by the soloist. Overall it's an emotionally ambiguous work compared to something like the 3rd symphony, which has melodies which are as heart-on-sleeve as Tüür gets. Salve Regina is a strong example of his under-recorded choral music. It is quite a strange juxtaposition of plainchant style singing with quite an intrusive accompanying ensemble, causing some odd clashes of old and new which I haven't encountered in his other recorded choral music.

Further info:
Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erkki-Sven_T%C3%BC%C3%BCr) which is all too brief (at this time)
Estonian Music Information Center page (http://www.emic.kul.ee/InglE/composers/Tuur,%20Erkki-Sven.htm)
Information page (http://www3.sympatico.ca/alan.teder/) (no longer updated)
Edition Peters profile (http://www.edition-peters.com/php/artist_details.php?artist=TUUR&section=composer) including scores for sale
A fan page (http://home.wanadoo.nl/ovar/tuur.htm) which lists some many works not featured on other sites, especially early ones
Sheet Music Plus (http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_artbrowseresults.html?cart=61415349575&artist=Erkki%20Sven%20Tuur) scores
ECM's website (http://www.ecmrecords.com/Catalogue/New_Series/1900/1919.php?lvredir=712&cat=%2FArtists%2FT%FC%FCr+Erkki-Sven%23%23Erkki-Sven+T%FC%FCr&catid=0&doctype=Catalogue&order=releasedate&rubchooser=901&mainrubchooser=9) which includes their useful linear notes which can be read online (under "Background")
Information on his opera "Wallenberg" (http://www.opera.ee/27656) including a video, which atm doesn't work

(If anyone runs into any more useful links I'll add them here.)

Works currently recorded:
Orchestra: Symphony No.2 (1986-7), Searching for Roots (Hommage à Sibelius) (1990), Zeitraum (1992), Symphony No.3 (1997), Exodus (1999), Aditus (2000 rev. 2002), Symphony No.4 "Magma" (2002)
Concerti: Cello (1997), Violin (1998) Marimba "Ardor" (2001-2)
String orchestra: Insula Deserta ["Desert Island"] (1989), Action Passion Illusion (1993), Lighthouse [a kind of homage to Bach] (1997), The Path and the Traces (2005)
Ensemble: Architectonics I-VII (1984-1992), In the Memory of Clear Water [wind symphony orchestra] (1990), Crystallisatio (1995), Oxymoron ["Music for Tirol"] (2003)
Chamber: Piano Sonata (1985), String Quartet (1986 or earlier), Spectrum I [organ] (1989), Dedication [cello & piano] (1990), Spiel ["Game", cello & guitar] (1992), Conversio [violin & piano] (1994), Drama [flute, violin & guitar] (1994), Spectrum II [organ, trumpet & percussion] (1994), Transmission [6 pianos] (1996), Motus II [percussion quartet] (1998)
Choral: Ante Finem Saeculi [oratorio] (1985), Inquiétude du Fini ["Concern that it is Over", chamber choir & orchestra] (1992?), Requiem [choir & ensemble] (1994), Salve Regina [male choir & ensemble] (2005), Igavik ["Eternity", male choir] (2006)

Regarding major works which require recording, the 1st symphony has yet to recieve one, and there is apparently mass "Lumen et Cantus" from the late 80s which could be substential. Corey also noticed that he has produced an opera which demands a recording.

According to the Edition Peters website: "Several new commissions are on the list, among them Piano Concerto, Accordion Concerto and large-scale work for orchestra." (http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/595/droolor8.gif) Also, gief moar chambermusix! :@

Also linking a previously posted DL for his out of print oratorio Ante Finem Saeculi (http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,42.msg195356.html#msg195356) so it doesn't get lost. Originally coupled on a Finlandia disc with the Symphony No.2 included on the Apex reissue.
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: bhodges on June 14, 2008, 01:40:24 PM
Thanks for this look at Tüür, whose work I am just beginning to explore.  (I have the Magma CD on the "to listen to" pile, and as you mentioned, it was quite inexpensive.)

Also I notice he's doing an Accordion Concerto, and coincidentally I was just reading about Accordion Awareness Month (http://www.sequenza21.com/2008/06/accordion-awareness-month.html).  :D

Anyway, I need to hear some of these other discs you mention.  Thanks for the comprehensive post!

--Bruce
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: Kullervo on June 14, 2008, 02:12:04 PM
Oh gawd, a thread, and I haven't even listened to the Apex disc yet!  :-X I'll get on it and post my impressions here and in the Listening thread as soon as I do so.
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: Varg on June 14, 2008, 02:30:56 PM
I just listened to some samples from the ECM recordings. I had to buy this:

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/7674371?rk=classic&rsk=hitlist

Thanks for the thread, Lethe.
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: Lethevich on June 14, 2008, 03:23:32 PM
Quote from: bhodges on June 14, 2008, 01:40:24 PM
Anyway, I need to hear some of these other discs you mention.

All of the ECM discs are very good, so I guess it should depend on which direction you want to go after hearing the Virgin one. Xantus is very keen on the violin concerto, for example, but I find that disc to be a little homogenous due to every work being for orchestra. The other works on it are also great, though, although I have to listen to Exodus a bit more before I can claim to be familiar with it...

The Accordion Concerto cannot fail to be badass ;D

Quote from: Corey on June 14, 2008, 02:12:04 PM
Oh gawd, a thread, and I haven't even listened to the Apex disc yet!  :-X I'll get on it and post my impressions here and in the Listening thread as soon as I do so.

My fannish outpourings cannot be stopped ;_:

Quote from: Varg on June 14, 2008, 02:30:56 PM
I just listened to some samples from the ECM recordings. I had to buy this:

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/7674371?rk=classic&rsk=hitlist

Nifty! I'm sure you'll like it. I found the way that the piece was presented on that disc a little daunting (one 30 minute slab, unindexed), but it was rewarding to familiarise with.
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: Kullervo on June 14, 2008, 03:38:42 PM
Quote from: Lethe on June 14, 2008, 03:23:32 PM
My fannish outpourings cannot be stopped ;_:

Indeed, you are only fanning the flames of fannishness by continuing this thread. :D
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: Renfield on June 14, 2008, 10:44:25 PM
1. Great title.

2. I also greatly appreciated "The Path and the Traces" from the Magma disc, which I am in fact going to re-listen to right now! :D

3. Great overview, and even greater comprehensive list (and recommendations) of recordings which I will be checking out.

4.
Quote from: LetheAlso, gief moar chambermusix! :@

QFT
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: Lethevich on June 14, 2008, 11:15:43 PM
Quote from: Renfield on June 14, 2008, 10:44:25 PM
I also greatly appreciated "The Path and the Traces" from the Magma disc, which I am in fact going to re-listen to right now! :D

TPATT is delightfully mysterious sounding, the earlier string orchestra works are if anything more straightforwardly tuneful. Insula Deserta was apparently his "breakthrough" work and pretty mandatory, and Lighthouse is also great, but as that shows up on several discs you won't need to especially seek it out - you'll no doubt end up with a disc containing it.
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: Christo on June 21, 2008, 10:42:21 PM
Great thread, Lethe, with a fine introduction into Tüür. I didn't hear his more recent compositions (especially the Third and Fourth symphonies) and feel much encouraged to renew my acqaintance with his music.

Btw I always had a special weakness for his oratorio Ante Finem Saeculi. The central setting of the poem by Viivi Luik especially is often breathtakingly beautiful, even if the technique still reveals his background in symphonic rock.
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: Lethevich on June 22, 2008, 02:28:32 AM
Quote from: Christo on June 21, 2008, 10:42:21 PM
I always had a special weakness for his oratorio Ante Finem Saeculi. The central setting of the poem by Viivi Luik especially is often breathtakingly beautiful, even if the technique still reveals his background in symphonic rock.

Indeedie, the propulsive themes in the second movement reminded me of rock as well.
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: 71 dB on July 22, 2008, 03:31:46 AM
I heard Tüür's music for the first time last night:

Motus II for Percussion Quartet - Cabaza Percussion Quartet [cpo]

I think it was the best work on that disc (got it for 2 €  ;D ).
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: Lethevich on July 22, 2008, 05:06:52 AM
Quote from: 71 dB on July 22, 2008, 03:31:46 AM
I heard Tüür's music for the first time last night:

Motus II for Percussion Quartet - Cabaza Percussion Quartet [cpo]

I think it was the best work on that disc (got it for 2 €  ;D ).

Yay! :D I didn't buy that disc because I am only interested in the small Tüür work on it and none of the others - I'm glad that you like it :)
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: 71 dB on July 22, 2008, 06:57:15 AM
Quote from: Lethe on July 22, 2008, 05:06:52 AM
Yay! :D I didn't buy that disc because I am only interested in the small Tüür work on it and none of the others - I'm glad that you like it :)

I only bought it last December for the laughable low price when making a big order from JPC.DE. Percussion music is of course a nice obscurity in my collection.  ;D
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: Lethevich on December 22, 2009, 01:33:48 PM
A bump, because I ran into a cool YouTube channel which has a lot of single movement Tüür played live at an Estonian festival, including Dedication and Conversio which are very good, but also very accessable pieces.

http://www.youtube.com/user/incorporefestival

http://www.youtube.com/v/ttoV73VX6eg http://www.youtube.com/v/hZYtXofX7zc

http://www.youtube.com/v/3Li5ygq9tvYhttp://www.youtube.com/v/Xufb8l8eGGw

http://www.youtube.com/v/g97_T1saj3Mhttp://www.youtube.com/v/rS7BpJJiqFc

http://www.youtube.com/v/_3uxUCu2n9Ahttp://www.youtube.com/v/l-Rib_sEzoA

http://www.youtube.com/v/BgeYQQyjmIIhttp://www.youtube.com/v/vaJzs3NIg7A

http://www.youtube.com/v/BmxLGvYBvWkhttp://www.youtube.com/v/b7j79EOZ8-M
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: snyprrr on December 25, 2009, 08:35:43 PM
Do you have the SQ? If so, what's the skinny?
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: Lethevich on December 26, 2009, 07:51:48 AM
It's nice, but not worth buying either in terms of its potential greatness or for interesting technique. It's surprisingly "normal", but then, it is an early work. The Tubin couplings are what makes the BIS disc worth owning for me.
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: kyjo on August 18, 2013, 07:39:14 PM
I know this thread hasn't been posted on for almost four years now, but I was hoping knowledgeable members could describe Tuur's style and accessibility level to me and recommend where to start with recordings of his music. Thanks in advance. :)
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: lescamil on August 18, 2013, 08:57:57 PM
Quote from: kyjo on August 18, 2013, 07:39:14 PM
I know this thread hasn't been posted on for almost four years now, but I was hoping knowledgeable members could describe Tuur's style and accessibility level to me and recommend where to start with recordings of his music. Thanks in advance. :)

The best thing would be to listen for yourself. It's a unique style that combines some tonal elements with some modernism. Lots of textural variety in this music. It's not the most accessible stuff in the world, but it won't scare you off if you've heard a fair share of 20th century music. I wouldn't be able to say where to start with his music, since there is so much variety. I would just say to dive in and see what happens.

Here is a piece of his that I've seen live and really enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv9ZzOrDuU0
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: kyjo on August 18, 2013, 09:06:39 PM
Quote from: lescamil on August 18, 2013, 08:57:57 PM
The best thing would be to listen for yourself. It's a unique style that combines some tonal elements with some modernism. Lots of textural variety in this music. It's not the most accessible stuff in the world, but it won't scare you off if you've heard a fair share of 20th century music. I wouldn't be able to say where to start with his music, since there is so much variety. I would just say to dive in and see what happens.

Here is a piece of his that I've seen live and really enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv9ZzOrDuU0

Thanks, lescamil. Like you say, hearing is believing! I'd still appreciate other members' input on Tuur's music, though. :)
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: Mirror Image on August 18, 2013, 09:19:28 PM
Tuur is an interesting composer. He's not a composer I listen that often as I don't think his music has much substance but in a purely aural way it's certainly fun to listen to. I bought a few of his recordings several years ago but I can't remember one note of any of the music or which work was what. :-\ One recording I did enjoy was this one on ECM:

[asin]B000024WZO[/asin]

I think his music hits on the more mainstream side of classical music for my tastes these days. Not that it's a bad thing, but it's just not music I listen to very often.
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: Archaic Torso of Apollo on August 19, 2013, 08:27:14 AM
The Violin Concerto is the one work that has really stuck with me. Traditional 3-mvt. structure; stylistically an interesting mix of modernism, romanticism, and a bit of rock/pop influence. Not a lot of good tunes, but some great atmospherics.
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: kyjo on August 19, 2013, 08:44:23 AM
Thanks for the recommendations, John and Velimir! :)
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: lescamil on August 19, 2013, 09:47:28 AM
Here is a recent piece of his that you can watch, not just listen to:

http://www.classiclive.com/Concerts/2013/March/Accordion-Concerto-Prophecy
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: kyjo on August 19, 2013, 11:04:06 AM
Just finished listening to Tüür's Viola Concerto Illuminatio on YouTube. I can't say I was too impressed by it. Tüür is able to conjure up some novel atmospherics, for sure, but I just wasn't really grabbed by anything in this piece. It seemed to me to be more bark than bite. I'm not going to give up on Tüür yet, though. :)
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: snyprrr on April 13, 2014, 06:02:47 PM
Based on the last two Posts, Tuur doesn't strike me as someone I'm going to get in to. I think I heard some, but can't... just mush in the brain. Is it Lepo Sumera I seek here instead? Obviously, if this were a financial death match, it would be between the BIS disc of Sumera 1-3 versus whatever your Tuur contender would be. Let the Games Begin! Who WINS my bread?!
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: snyprrr on April 13, 2014, 06:18:21 PM
It took me less than a minute with Tuur. No thanks. Who is the Composer who is 10 Times Better than Sumera and Tuur combined? if that's a correct way of putting it...
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: San Antone on October 16, 2015, 04:07:03 AM
On the occasion of his birthday ...

Erkki-Sven Tüür : Questions ...

(https://musicakaleidoscope.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/tuur.jpg?w=764)

As a composer, Tüür wishes for his music to raise existential questions.

"What is our mission? It is the main question asked by thinkers and philosophers from different cultures. One of my goals is to reach the creative energy of the listener. Music as an abstract form of art is able to create different visions for each of us, for each and every individual being, as we are all unique." (https://musicakaleidoscope.wordpress.com/2015/10/16/erkki-sven-tuur-questions/)
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: Wanderer on September 28, 2016, 11:07:19 PM
Almost a year without a post.

I attended the Vienna premiere of his Sow the Wind... in April, superbly performed by the Wiener Symphoniker and Paavo Järvi, and I thought very highly of it. The work felt quite organic in its incorporation of what could be described as several Aeolian (not the mode) states of sonority, both soothing breezes and massive storms as well as several more in between, it never sagged and had tremendous virtuosic passages for the orchestra. Tüür was sitting five seats in front of me and in the end got acknowledged by a well-deserved round of applause.
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: San Antone on September 29, 2016, 01:49:35 AM
I had forgotten that I'd written about this composer.  :o   Very interesting guy and the music is well worth investigating.  Thanks for bumping the thread.

;)
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: nathanb on September 29, 2016, 06:32:45 AM
I really wish Tüür would pick a style (like, at least within a single piece). I like him, but it's very hard to decide just how much I like him when he insists on constantly vacillating between a sort of proto-spectral style and a European minimalism style. Personally I prefer the former, but I would be ok if he pursued the latter. It would just be nice to know what kind of music I'm throwing on, I guess. For when I want to be surprised, I already have Schnittke, Berio, etc anyway ;)
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: SurprisedByBeauty on May 26, 2018, 12:49:19 AM
Latest review on #ClassicsToday:
Erkki-Sven Tüür's Whistling Desert-Fowl
on @OndineRecords w/@TSinfonietta
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DeGsPIpXkAAl5Pd.jpg)
Symphony 8, Viola Concerto & Flute Concertino (https://www.classicstoday.com/review/erkki-sven-tuurs-whistling-desert-fowl/)

And of course Symphony No.7 & PC, from a little while back:

The 10 Best Classical Recordings Of 2014 (New Releases)
(https://thumbor.forbes.com/thumbor/960x0/https%3A%2F%2Fblogs-images.forbes.com%2Fjenslaurson%2Ffiles%2F2014%2F12%2FBest_Recordings_of_2014_laurson_FORBES_640-250_erkki-sven-Tuur_ECM_paavo-jaervi_Frankfurt-RSO_.jpg)
No.4
Stirring Depths from Estonia (https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenslaurson/2014/12/23/10-best-classical-recordings-of-2014-new-releases/#7221006921ac)
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: SurprisedByBeauty on August 03, 2018, 10:48:03 AM
Latest on ClassicsToday:

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DizK2bkXUAAOEaO.jpg)

Latest on @classicstoday: Tüür's Splendid New Wine In Old Wineskins [Insider]

There's still much left in the old form and modes if only a composer can muster sufficient imagination. Tüür does!

@erkkisven / @OndineRecords / @HelsinkiPhil / @OlariElts

https://www.classicstoday.com/review/major-discoveries-tuurs-splendid-new-wine-in-old-wineskins/ ... (https://www.classicstoday.com/review/major-discoveries-tuurs-splendid-new-wine-in-old-wineskins/)
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: Daverz on August 03, 2018, 11:29:07 AM
Yes, very interesting composer, but I still don't have a handle on him.  Perhaps that's his intention.
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: vers la flamme on July 19, 2021, 02:25:31 AM
Anyone listening to Tüür's music? It appears ECM has recorded quite a bit of it. I picked up one of the ECM discs recently called Crystallisatio. I'm enjoying it so far but not sure I can tell what this composer is all about; so far my impression is "Pärt-lite".
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: relm1 on July 19, 2021, 05:59:50 AM
Quote from: vers la flamme on July 19, 2021, 02:25:31 AM
Anyone listening to Tüür's music? It appears ECM has recorded quite a bit of it. I picked up one of the ECM discs recently called Crystallisatio. I'm enjoying it so far but not sure I can tell what this composer is all about; so far my impression is "Pärt-lite".

I wouldn't compare him to Pärt at all.  His early career was as a 1980's progressive rock musician in Estonia and you sometimes here some of that background in his music.  With his training by Sumera and Raats, you should love to them as more closely aligned stylistically, but Sumera has more Sibelian rugged landscapes in his music, though when abstract (like Sumera's Symphony No. 5), you can see a link with Tuur.  I really enjoyed his latest Symphony, No. 9 "Mythos", you might want to seek that one out.  Overall, I enjoy his music but structurally, it is a bit free form making it a little hard to follow the musical arguments, not that it meanders, just that there is a bit more of an improvisatory quality to it.  With Sumera or Raats, they are a bit more traditional in their structural approach.  You get an opening -> a statement -> a development -> a build up -> climax -> some sort of resolution or coda so the trajectory is quite understandable.  With Tuur, you might get something more like: an opening -> what I think about that.  One approach isn't better or worse than the other, just different.
Title: Re: Tüür's Tonic Triforium
Post by: vers la flamme on July 19, 2021, 02:34:49 PM
Quote from: relm1 on July 19, 2021, 05:59:50 AM
I wouldn't compare him to Pärt at all.  His early career was as a 1980's progressive rock musician in Estonia and you sometimes here some of that background in his music.  With his training by Sumera and Raats, you should love to them as more closely aligned stylistically, but Sumera has more Sibelian rugged landscapes in his music, though when abstract (like Sumera's Symphony No. 5), you can see a link with Tuur.  I really enjoyed his latest Symphony, No. 9 "Mythos", you might want to seek that one out.  Overall, I enjoy his music but structurally, it is a bit free form making it a little hard to follow the musical arguments, not that it meanders, just that there is a bit more of an improvisatory quality to it.  With Sumera or Raats, they are a bit more traditional in their structural approach.  You get an opening -> a statement -> a development -> a build up -> climax -> some sort of resolution or coda so the trajectory is quite understandable.  With Tuur, you might get something more like: an opening -> what I think about that.  One approach isn't better or worse than the other, just different.

Interesting. I've never listened to Sumera or Raats. I guess I do kind of hear a prog-rock kind of vibe in this music.