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From the title, one might expect that this release by Norwegian Baroque violinist Bjarte Eike is an exploration of the well-trodden theme of melancholy in British music in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. In fact it is that, but it's much more besides. The Image of Melancholy is an experiment with the form in at least three ways, and it should appeal greatly to listeners of a speculative frame of mind. First, Eike and his small Barokksolistene ensemble expand the historical picture in both space and time, mixing traditional music from Scandinavia and beyond (even from Slovakia) with compositions by Dowland, Holborne, and Byrd, and adding Baroque pieces such as one of Biber's Mystery Sonatas that are not precisely "melancholy" but certainly play off the concept in arresting ways. Second, Eike takes the compositional world into the present day, furnishing original pieces, and heavily arranged versions of traditional tunes, of his own and by other contemporary writers. These generally have the effect of providing a sort of atmospheric frame to the earlier music. And third, under the rubric of "post-production," Eike makes use of such techniques as layering, multi-tracking, and even cross-fading from the hip-hop DJ's arsenal. It's all quite gripping, although one wonders whether the church ambiance, giving Eike's violin a brittle tone, quite serves the inwardness toward which Eike is aiming. Nevertheless, listeners looking for a completely different presentation of Dowland's Flow My Tears and similar works of that time, The Image of Melancholy will most certainly offers one. The entire thing gets extra points for sheer originality.
© TiVo
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Bjarte Eike, Composer, Conductor, MainArtist - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Antony Holborne, Composer - Bjarte Eike, Conductor, MainArtist - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Book of Songs, Book 2 (John Dowland)
Anonymous, Lyricist - John Dowland, Composer - Bjarte Eike, Conductor, MainArtist - Berit Norbakken Solset, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Traditional, Composer - Bjarte Eike, Conductor, Arranger, MainArtist - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Antony Holborne, Composer - Bjarte Eike, Conductor, MainArtist - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Traditional, Composer - Jon Balke, Arranger - Per Mathisson Offvid, Lyricist - Bjarte Eike, Conductor, Arranger, MainArtist - Berit Norbakken Solset, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Mystery (Rosary) Sonata No. 9, "Jesus Carries the Cross" (Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber)
Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber, Composer - Milos Valent, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Bjarte Eike, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Fried- und Freudenreiche Hinfahrt, BuxWV 76 (Dieterich Buxtehude)
Anonymous, Lyricist - Dieterich Buxtehude, Composer - Bjarte Eike, Conductor, MainArtist - Berit Norbakken Solset, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Antony Holborne, Composer - Bjarte Eike, Conductor, MainArtist - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Traditional, Composer, Lyricist - Milos Valent, Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Bjarte Eike, Conductor, MainArtist - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Traditional, Composer - Bjarte Eike, Conductor, Arranger, MainArtist - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Traditional, Composer, Lyricist - Jon Balke, Arranger - Bjarte Eike, Conductor, Arranger, MainArtist - Berit Norbakken Solset, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Antony Holborne, Composer - Bjarte Eike, Conductor, MainArtist - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Bjarte Eike, Conductor, Arranger, MainArtist - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist - Ruaidri Dall O Cathain, Composer
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Book of Songs, Book 2 (John Dowland)
Anonymous, Lyricist - John Dowland, Composer - Bjarte Eike, Conductor, MainArtist - Berit Norbakken Solset, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Jon Balke, Composer - Bjarte Eike, Conductor, MainArtist - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Bjarte Eike, Conductor, Arranger, MainArtist - Johann Sommer, Composer - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
John Dowland, Composer - Bjarte Eike, Conductor, MainArtist - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Anonymous, Lyricist - William BYRD, Composer - Bjarte Eike, Conductor, MainArtist - Berit Norbakken Solset, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Niel Gow, Composer - Bjarte Eike, Conductor, Arranger, MainArtist - Barokksolistene, Ensemble, MainArtist
2014 BIS 2014 (P) BIS
Album review
From the title, one might expect that this release by Norwegian Baroque violinist Bjarte Eike is an exploration of the well-trodden theme of melancholy in British music in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. In fact it is that, but it's much more besides. The Image of Melancholy is an experiment with the form in at least three ways, and it should appeal greatly to listeners of a speculative frame of mind. First, Eike and his small Barokksolistene ensemble expand the historical picture in both space and time, mixing traditional music from Scandinavia and beyond (even from Slovakia) with compositions by Dowland, Holborne, and Byrd, and adding Baroque pieces such as one of Biber's Mystery Sonatas that are not precisely "melancholy" but certainly play off the concept in arresting ways. Second, Eike takes the compositional world into the present day, furnishing original pieces, and heavily arranged versions of traditional tunes, of his own and by other contemporary writers. These generally have the effect of providing a sort of atmospheric frame to the earlier music. And third, under the rubric of "post-production," Eike makes use of such techniques as layering, multi-tracking, and even cross-fading from the hip-hop DJ's arsenal. It's all quite gripping, although one wonders whether the church ambiance, giving Eike's violin a brittle tone, quite serves the inwardness toward which Eike is aiming. Nevertheless, listeners looking for a completely different presentation of Dowland's Flow My Tears and similar works of that time, The Image of Melancholy will most certainly offers one. The entire thing gets extra points for sheer originality.
© TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 20 track(s)
- Total length: 01:06:18
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Bjarte Eike
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: BIS
- Genre: Classical Chamber Music
2014 BIS 2014 BIS
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