For this edition of New Sounds, listen to new music from Russia, featuring works by sound artist Lovozero, electronic music by Moscow-based Kate NV, and arrangements of Russian choral works for Kronos Quartet.
Hear works by sound artist and electronic composer Lovozero (Anastasia Tolchneva), who pits brittle synths against vocals rooted in Northern Russian folk tradition. Then, hear music from Russian synth futurist and sound sculptor Kate NV, (also known as Kate Shilonosova.) She produces surreal and propulsive feats of musical whimsy with everyday sounds that extend into soundscapes.
There’s also music by the late Russian composer Alfred Schnittke, who was half German, and half-Jewish. His piece, “Collected Songs Where Every Verse Is Filled With Grief” was originally for chorus, but arranged for Kronos Quartet. Then, Russian pianist/composer Anton Batagov sets poetry by John Donne leaving all the text in English, on an orchestral vocal cycle I Fear No More. The record features a cast of Russian rockers, an operatic baritone, and the Russian State Academic Symphony Orchestra.
Plus, hear music by Vladimir Martynov, a Russian composer who combines the traditions of American minimalism with the repetitive chant of Russian Orthodoxy. Listen to Martynov’s “The Beatitudes,” which was originally written as a choral piece but re-scored and arranged for Kronos by Martynov.
Program #4150: From Russia With...New Music (First aired 9/18/2018)
ARTIST: Kate NV
WORK: OAK [1:00]
RECORDING: для FOR
SOURCE: RVNG Intl. RVNGNL50
INFO: igetrvng.com
ARTIST: Lovozero
WORK: Volosy [4:38]
RECORDING: Moroka
SOURCE/INFO: lovozero.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Kronos Quartet
WORK: Alfred Schnittke: Collected Songs Where Every Verse Is Filled With Grief [8:21]
RECORDING: Schnittke: The Complete String Quartets / Kronos Quartet
SOURCE: Nonesuch 79500
INFO: nonesuch.com
ARTIST: Lovozero
WORK: Solntse Vidit Vse [4:24]
RECORDING: Moroka
SOURCE/INFO: lovozero.bandcamp.com
ARTIST: Kate NV
WORK: как how [4:27]
RECORDING: для FOR
SOURCE: RVNG Intl. RVNGNL50
INFO: igetrvng.com
ARTIST: Anton Batagov, The State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia, Vladimir Jurowski, conductor | Alexander Korenkov, baritone
WORK: Anton Batagov: A Hymn to god the father [7:59]
RECORDING: I Fear No More: Selected Songs and Meditations of John Donne
SOURCE: Fancymusic
INFO: batagov.com
ARTIST: Kate NV
WORK: OAK [4:00]
RECORDING: для FOR
SOURCE: RVNG Intl. RVNGNL50
INFO: igetrvng.com
ARTIST: Kronos Quartet
WORK: Vladimir Martynov: Beatitudes [5:31]
RECORDING: Music of Vladimir Martynov
SOURCE: Nonesuch 529776
INFO: nonesuch.com
ARTIST: Russian Chamber Chorus of New York / Nicolai Kachanov
WORK: Yuri Yukechev: Chant [3:50]
RECORDING: My Heart is Ready
SOURCE: Helicon 1005
INFO: rccny.org
ARTIST: Anton Batagov, The State Academic Symphony Orchestra of Russia, Vladimir Jurowski, conductor
WORK: Anton Batagov: Epilogue [2:10]
RECORDING: I Fear No More: Selected Songs and Meditations of John Donne
SOURCE: Fancymusic
INFO: batagov.com