The Squid's Ear Magazine


Wolfarth, Christian : 39 / Part IV - VI (Hiddenbell Records)

An engaging album of solo percussion that start like a vortex of clocks ticking, and then draws the listener into an amazing journey of unique percussive expression, timbre, rhythm and subtle transitions, the second album in Swiss percussionist Christian Wolfarth's 39 series, presenting Parts IV - VI of his works exploring the relationships between 3, 9 & 39.
 

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Christian Wolfarth-percussion


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Label: Hiddenbell Records
Catalog ID: 014
Squidco Product Code: 35269

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2024
Country: Switzerland
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded in 2023 and 2024.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"The creative process, a means by which creative work finds its way into realization, has consistently reconfigured its basic principles as the content of art has evolved. The choices we make, the decisions that make sense to us, reveal our nature and our passion to assemble the things we wish to share with others as an experience. We are offered a number, as a title for this recording, which we have seen before and we'll see once more, as Christian releases this second of three chapters of "39" for us to explore.

The vocabulary is as familiar as it is austere. We mostly recognize what we hear but this is immediately superseded by the organization of these familiar sounds into periodic fields that spatialize rhythmic relations and redistribute density. These choices can sometimes feel arbitrary but their temporary universes belie an acoustic science which intentionally draw us toward how similar layered frequencies, carved mostly from one source, blur away from that source into a meta universe. Often the rhythmic organization of the source material is transformed by its layered collective continuum.

One of the mysteries of abstract art is how rigorous methodologies can surpass their own logic to provide a content that need's no explanation. We easily grasp there is a system underlying how the sonic material is ordered, but equally marvel at how a stone falling in water can logically transition to a gentle microscopic tremolo. It's as if the crafting of these incongruent elements provide a nutrition to the overall experience of this music. Ultimately the intuitive compositional choices that Christian discovers in his process, deftly balance proportions and relations that adhere to the central organizing principle of 3, 9 and 39."-Gerry Hemingway


Artist Biographies

"Biography

Born 1960 in Zürich/Switzerland.

1982-1986 studies with Bob Cunningham and Billy Brooks at the Swiss Jazz School in Bern.

1992-1996 studies with Pierre Favre at the Conservatorium in Luzern.

1995 studies in Composition with Siegfried Kutterer in Basel.

Workshops with George Lewis, Alexander von Schlippenbach, Jojo Mayer, Han Bennink and others.

Since the middle of the 80th's he's involved in many projects between Jazz, improvised and written New Music.

Since 1991 he played many solo concerts in all over Europe and Russia.

Regular works with dancers above all with Nina F. Schneider and her dance company. (1994-2002)

He works for theatre, film and video.Collaborations and concerts with

Al Maslakh Ensemble, Claus van Bebber, Burkhard Beins, Christian Buck, John Butcher, Gene Coleman, Bertrand Denzler, Jacques Demierre, Michel Doneda, Axel Dörner, John Edwards, Donat Fisch, Christoph Gallio, Mich Gerber, Malcolm Goldstein, Eugen Gomringer, Barry Guy, Charlotte Hug, Jason Kahn, Hans Koch, Jonas Kocher, Tomas Korber, Annette Krebs, Fine Kwiatkowski, Joke Lanz, Urs Leimgruber, London, Improvisers Orchestra, Paul Lovens, Werner Lüdi, Michael Lytle, Paul Lytton, Enrico Malatesta, Albert Mangelsdorff, Michael Moser, Norbert Möslang, Günter Müller, Lauren Newton, Andrea Neumann, Lucas Niggli, Evan Parker, Simon Picard, Lê Quan Ninh, Ignaz Schick, Alex von Schlippenbach, Irène Schweizer, Christine Sehnaoui, Günther Sommer, Jürg Solothurnmann, Michael Thieke, Michael Vorfeld, Phil Wachsman, Christian Weber, Michel Wintsch, Michael Zerang, Ingar Zach, Alfred Zimmerlin and many others.Labels

His work is released on labels like: for4ears, formed, HatOLOGY, Leo, Klangbad, Presto!?, Rossbin, mikroton, Monotype, Quakebasket, hiddenbell, Creative Sources, Origin, Percaso, Wandelweiser, Unit and others.Festivals

Christian Wolfarth has played at some festivals such as:Festival Total Meeting (F), Festival Densités (F), Les Arts à Gahard (F), Wien Modern (A), Ulrichsberger Kaleidophon (A), Festival Pulsi (I), LEM Festival (ES), Störung Festival (ES), At Harbour (CR), Percussion Festival (RU), Skanu Mezs (LET), Musica Genera (PL), Festival Blaue Fabrik (D), ZAM Labor (D), Klangbad Festival (D), Humanoise Congress (D), Festival Rue du Nord (CH), Festival de la Cité (CH), Festival Akouphène (CH), Festival Archipel, (CH), Onze Plus (CH), Jazzfestival Willisau (CH), Festival ZweiTageZeit (CH), Unerhört (CH), Maiers Ohr (CH), Stanser Musiktage (CH), Festival SehnsOhr (CH), Knoten Festival (CH), TonArt (CH), Taktlos Festival (CH)"

-Christian Wolfarth Website (http://christianwolfarth.ch/en/biography/?_wb=en/biography/&lang=EN)
10/2/2024

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. 39 / Part IV 18:08

2. 39 / Part V 13:53

3. 39 / Part VI 19:52

Related Categories of Interest:


Compositional Forms
Percussion & Drums
Solo Artist Recordings
European Improvisation, Composition and Experimental Forms
Field Recordings
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New in Compositional Music
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Hiddenbell Records.


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