Requiem For My Friend - Preisner / Rewakowicz, Kasprzyk, Sinfonia Varsovia, et al
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Free Music Notes for Requiem For My Friend - Preisner / Rewakowicz, Kasprzyk, Sinfonia Varsovia, et al
Free Music Review: Film music meets sacred inspiration with deep panache
Hit: 4 Stars
Zbigniew Preisner well known to some for film scores to multiple titles including "At Play in the Fields or the Lord", Malle's "Damage", and "Fairytale: A true story" is an extremely talented writer of beautifully melodic materials. This setting of the requiem text, (including what I assume to be Hungarian translations for several passages) is haunting in spots, very clean, very harmonically accesible. If the early Orgel-Werks and Elegiac part writing of the 14-16th centuries are familiar you, you may well feel at home with this work. Not to dismiss this music as "simple" or "traditional", but the rhythmic and harmonic materials are very basic. The Varsov Sinfonia and Chamber Choir are well represented and given very honest performances of the music. In addition, Soprano Elzabieta Towarnicka has a very nice tone and maintains a solid balance between the "I am THE SOPRANO" and "I am part of an ensemble" aspects of the performance. Her attack and sustain of some passages is a bit "peaked", but not so much to detract from her emotional intensity. The 2nd part of the recording "LIFE" makes much greater use of the orchestra. The pieces are again accessible and in some ways almost folksong oriented. The track "LOVE" in particular is evocative of both Bartok and Enya with elements of Indian Raga and Jazz mixed in for good measure. The only thing which kept the album from receiving 5 stars from me is that is doesn't say anything "NEW"... It is a beautiful composition and will remain in my collection for quite some time, but it is not destined to become one of my "favorites".Free Music Review: ...Interesting
Hit: 4 Stars
"Requiem For My Friend" is Zbigniew Preisner's first large scale orchestral work outside of film scores. Having been responsible for scoring many of Krzysztol Kieslowski films, among them being the widely acclaimed three colour trilogy Blue, White and Red...This Requiem is Preisner's tribute to Kieslowski who he had worked so closely together with, Kieslowski died in 1996.The Requiem isn't on a grand scale and it can hardly be compared to the Requiems of Mozart, Brahms, Faure, Verdi but it is captivating nevertheless. The Requiem is scored for 5 male singers and a soprano, Elzbieta Towarnicka the soprano has in the past been a fixture in Preisner's works and as usual her vocal parts within the Requiem are very good as well as the other 5 singers that have a helping hand. The vocals are powerful, deep and very bassy with a string quintet, organ and pecussion interlaying with the vocal parts.
Granted Part Two: Life isn't as good as the Requiem but its better than most people would give it credit for. Life was intended for a play, opera combination that would materialize into others that would take place through out the world...this one in particular was to be on the Acropolis in Athens, Preisner would score and Kieslowski direct. For the obvious reason this project never got off the planning stage. I can draw some direct comparisons to Life to any one of his film scores but as well there is new ground threaded here.
Zbigniew Preisner is the finest when it comes for scoring films, he has a more direct approach to classicalism more so than others who try juggling classical with pop. I just think he's one step away from doing that masterpiece and it will eventually happen.
Free Music Review: The first part (Requiem) is worth owning this CD
Hit: 4 Stars
I heard this piece while browsing the classical record racks at a record store, and couldn't resist purchasing the CD. This 2-part composition--divided into "Requiem" and "Life"--works much better if each section is treated as a separate composition (which is what they probably are). The "Requiem" (Part 1) indeed borders on astounding. It defies a label. It feels classical--even darkly medieval--yet is still plainly late 20th century music. It is haunting, other-worldly, moving, and powerful in its useage of simple resources. In all, a piece of modern classical music that can stand beside the Gorecki 3rd. The 2nd part--"Life"--suffers mostly when it is listened to immediately following the "Requiem". By itself its worthy enough, but the stylistic differences between the 2 don't mesh. "Life" has much more of a film music / New Age feel to it. Instead of the intimate string quintet, percussion and pipe organ accompanying the vocal soloists heard in "Requiem", we now hear full orchestra and chorus belting out "Carmina Burana"-like passages; instead of completely original music, we now hear musical sections that could have accompanied "Titanic" to the bottom. Its still not bad, but it just doesn't reach the lofty heights achieved in the more simply done "Requiem". In short, "Requiem for my Friend" is much more satisfying for its opening half--an outstanding bit of music making!Free Music Review: Great first part, second part disappoints in long term
Hit: 4 Stars
Following the traditional pattern of a requiem, the firt part of this contemporary requiem is the most thrilling and exciting part of the album. Preisner perfectly knows how to build up the tension towards the end. The vocal parts are very strong, here and there the orchestra sometimes sounds a bit shaky. The second part is interesting to listen to, but wears off very rapidly. Serves fine as film music or back ground music if you can't be bothered to listen carefully, but does by no means live up to the expectations raised by the first part. My four-star rating is based on the first part only. Preisner should not have bothered about the second part.Free Music Review: A Beautiful Work
Hit: 4 Stars
I believe the details of this work are already described quite well in the other reviews. I would like to add that although it is fairly slow and somber, it is miraculously powerful. Great buy.