Instruments of Happiness performs Brady, Wiens & Berthiaume
Sheet Music

SKU: NX.ST-224

By Instruments of Happiness. By Antoine Berthiaume, Rainer Wiens, and Tim Brady. Classical. Listening CD. Published by Naxos (NX.ST-224).

UPC: 754702022425.

This debut of the electric guitar quartet Instruments of Happiness presents premiere recordings of four works from Tim Brady, Antoine Berthiaume, and Rainer Wiens. Allan Kozinn contributed the CD's Introduction, noting that "as an exploration of an electric guitar ensemble's sonic grandeur - and subtlety, too - Brady's Symphony No. 5, heard in two versions on this disc, is hard to top." The first version, The Same River Twice: Symphony #5.0, is a multi-sectioned work scored for the full quartet. With the use of highly varied, expressive sounds created by guitars, amplifiers, and effects pedals, the orchestration possibilities of four guitars approach a mini-symphony orchestra. Along the way, Kozinn finds "a touch of Brucknerian lumbering… a slow, dreamy haze, rich in melodies… a funky waltz - with occasional hints of 1960s surf guitar… an exciting finale." Written for a single guitarist, the second version, The Same River Twice: Symphony #5.Solo, uses some of the same materials along with new ideas. Kozinn hears a variety of influences: "1970s art-rock guitarists like Manuel Gottsching of the German electronic band Ash Ra Tempel, Steve Hillage of Gong, Steve Howe of Yes, and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. Brady's sound is his own, of course, but his flowing, rounded themes evoke the spirits of art-rock experimentalism." Antoine Berthiaume's Fungi explores a slow harmonic ascension in a 6/4 tempo, inspired by Progressive Rock and the music of Ennio Marricone. The work also features an important solo part for the Fender VI bass, a hybrid guitar/bass instrument best known for being used by John Lennon and George Harrison on the "Let It Be" recordings. Rainer Wiens' What Is Time? explores the timbral possibilities of prepared guitar and the use of human breath as the rhythmic determinant. Kozinn describes the work as "a dark, often eerie exploration of space, texture and atmosphere, as compelling as it is unsettled and puzzling." Tim Brady, named "one of the 30 most important guitarists for the future of the instrument" by Guitar Player, has been at the forefront of creating contemporary classical music for electric guitar for over 25 years. His music has also been praised as "haunting and explosive" by Gramophone, "highly recommended" by The Wire, and "exuberant" by The New York Times. Brady has received Prix OPUS awards both for "Best New Composition of the Year" (for Atacama: Symphonie #3) and "Composer of the Year.".

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