Caution: addictive sounds!
The musicians of the ensemble Lautten Compagney, founded in Berlin 35 years ago, have made a leap across the centuries to take part in this meeting of American minimalists (and their close family): Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Meredith Monk and Wim Mertens with Guillaume Dufay's Ars Nova. Entitled Circle Lines, their new album for deutsche harmonia mundi brings together ancient and contemporary pieces, which, in alternating from one to another, show off their similarities. Through this work, Lautten Compagney are presenting a circular, cyclical vision of history. Listening to the record, we are charmed by the programme's evenness. What's more, we are troubled by the way the musicians have literally fused Dufay together with his younger peers: the rhythmic continuum of the strings on Dance V from In the Upper Room by Philip Glass underlines the melodic lines of Par droit je puis bien and lend it an irresistible force; in the same, jocular way, a rhythmic ostinato is produced by beating the strings with the wood of the bow and a zinc spring on Clapping Music by Steve Reich, adding a theatrical touch to the melody of Dufay's Se la face ay pale.
Their musical intelligence, their close partnership and their immense talent, the musicians of Lautten Compagney give voice to the great innovation of Renaissance counterpoint, a fine way of showcasing American music. Even if these repertoires aren't to your taste, you'll treasure this record! © Elsa Siffert/Qobuz