ECM Records FLORIAN WEBER: IMAGINARY CYCLE LP

Idiosyncratic, large-scale and in its fundamental disposition one of a kind, Florian Weber’s Imaginary Cycle, conceived for the unique instrumentation of brass ensemble and piano, is a hybrid of multiple musical languages that seamlessly blends the harmonious with the oblique. Here Weber presents a cycle in four parts, plus an opening and an epilogue, in which the German pianist is joined by a group of four euphoniums, a trombone quartet as well as flautist Anna-Lena Schnabel and Michel Godard on the seldomly used “serpent” brass instrument, together performing a work that blurs the line where improvisation ends and composition begins. As the ensemble elegantly journeys across Florian’s multiple-idioms-spanning oeuvre, symphonic passages mingle with intricate counterpoint, pastoral notions are contrasted with textures more contemporary and each voice in the ensemble plays an independent part, adding to a whole. A daring and spectacular endeavour, Imaginary Cycle follows Florian’s contributions to the albums by Matthieu Bordenave, Ralph Alessi and his own quartet recording Lucent Waters – though the musical intersections between those albums and this one are few and equivocal. The project, recorded at Sendesaal Bremen in July 2023, was developed in close collaboration with Manfred Eicher, who produced the album.

Featured Artists:

Florian Weber Piano

Quatuor Opus 33:

Corentin Morvan Euphonium

Jean Daufresne Euphonium

Patrick Wibart Euphonium

Vianney Desplantes Euphonium

Lisa Stick Trombone

Sonja Beeh Trombone

Victoria Rose Davey Trombone

Maxine Troglauer Bass Trombone

Anna-Lena Schnabel Flute

Michel Godard Tuba, Serpent

Recorded

July 2022, Sendesaal Bremen

Original Release Date

13.09.2024