Additional information

– written by Kristian Blak

1. Images, String Quartet no. 2 (1987) 17:55

1. Reyð genta / ‘Red Girl’
2. Vetrarmorgun / ‘Winter Morning’
3. Várkvøld á Høgareyni / ‘Spring Morning on Høgareyn’
4. Genta við vindeygað / ‘Girl at the Window

Each of the four movements is named after a painting by Faroese artist Ingálvur av Reyni (b. 1920). The four paintings were part of his exhibition in 1984 at The Faroese Museum of Art. The composition employs musically some of the techniques and moods used by Ingálvur av Reyni.

Recorded June, 1991 at Moyzes Hall, Bratislava.
Featuring Moyzes Quartet
Recording Director: Jaroslav Rybář
Recording Engineer: Rastislav Martinický

2. Böhmerlands Dronning / The Queen of Böhmen (1991) 08:20

In 1205 the Princess Dagmar (Dragomir) of Böhmen, daughter of Ottokar I, married the Danish King Valdemar II Sejr. The gentle queen was very popular among her Danish subjects. She died young, in child birth.

‘Böhmerlands Dronning’ is the name of one of the ballads sung about her. This ballad is still sung and danced as a ringdance in the Faroe Islands. I have been fascinated by the history and myths surrounding Queen Dagmar since my schooldays in Ribe, Denmark. Ribe was the town to which she sailed on her arrival in Denmark and the place where she died. Although this piece is in one movement, it has three parts: Innocence, Disturbance and Sorrow.

Recorded December, 1991 at The Slovak Radio, Bratislava
Violin: Stanislav Mucha
Recording Director: Emil Nižňanský
Recording Engineer: Hubert Geschwandtner

3. Rørsla / ‘Movement’ String Quartet no. 1 (1985) 11:47

1. Rørsla / ‘Movement’
2. Dansur / ‘Dance’

Recorded June, 1991 at Moyzes Hall, Bratislava.
Featuring Moyzes Quartet
Recording Director: Jaroslav Rybář
Recording Engineer: Rastislav Martinický

4. Ariettes (1991) 12:04

1. Chanson d’Automne
2. Green
3. Ariette oubliée

This composition musically follows three poems by the French poet Paul Verlaine (1844-1896). Verlaine explored the phonetic aspect of the French language in a particularly musical way.

Recorded December, 1991 at the Slovak Radio, Bratislava
Cello: Ján Slávik
Recording Director: Emil Nižňanský
Recording Engineer: Hubert Geschwandtner

Chanson d’automne 1 by Paul Verlaine
Les sanglots longs Des violons spor

De l’automne Blessent mon cœur D’une langueur Monotone.

Tout suffocant Et blême, quand

Sonne l’heure, Je me souviens Des jours anciens Et je pleure;

Et je m’en vais Au vent mauvais

Qui m’emporte Deçà, delà, Pareil à la

Feuille morte.

Green by Paul Verlaine
Voici des fruits, des fleurs, des feuilles et des branches Et puis voci mon cœur qui ne bát que pour vous. Ne le déchirez pas avec vos deux mains blanches Et qu’à vos yeux si beaux l’humble présent soit doux.

J’arrive tout couvert encore de rosée

Que le vent du matin vient glacer à mon front. Souffrez que ma fatigue à vos pieds reposée Rêve des chers instants qui la délasseront.

Sur votre jeune sein laissez rouler ma tête Toute sonore encor de vos derniers baisers; Laissez-la s’apaiser de la bonne tempête, Et que je dorme un peu puisque vous reposez. Ariette oubliée

C’est l’extase langoureuse, C’est la fatique amoureuse, C’est tous les frissons des bois Parmi l’étreinte des brises, C’est, vers les ramures grises, Le chœur des petites voix.

svallis by Paul Verlaine
Ô le frêle et frais murmure! Cela gazouille et susurre, Cela ressemble au cri doux Que l’herbe agitée expire… Tu dirais, sous l’eau qui vire, Le roulis sourd des cailloux.

Cette âme qui se lamente En cette plainte dormante C’est la nôtre, n’est-ce pas? La mienne, dis, et la tienne, Dont s’exhale l’humble antienne Par ce tiède soir, tout bas?

5. Nadn (1988) 08:11

1. Nign
2. Doina
3. Oy Tate

This piece was inspired by music in the klezmer tradition. The three movements are based on music recorded early in this century in New York by Jewish immigrants from Galicia, Rumania and other parts of Eastern Europe.

‘Nadn’ is the Yiddish word for ‘dowry’.

Recorded December, 1991 at The Slovak Radio, Bratislava
Violin: František Török
Guitar: Jozef Zsapka
Recording Director: Emil Nižňanský
Recording Engineer: Hubert Geschwandtner

6. Elinborg (1987) 05:57

The viola is the leading instrument in this piece for string quartet. It was originally composed as a part of a ballet, based on the Faroese ballad ‘Harra Pætur og Elinborg’. The main sources for the musical material in this composition are the tonality and intervals heard in Faroese traditional hymns.

Recorded December, 1991 at The Slovak Radio, Bratislava
Featuring Moyzes Quartet.
Viola sola: Alexander Lakatoš
Recording Director: Emil Nižňanský
Recording Engineer: Hubert Geschwandtner