GIYA KANCHELI

Themes from the Songbook

1. Herio Bichebo from Earth, This Is Your Son

2. Theme from Bear’s Kiss

3. Main theme from The Crucibles

4. Theme from As You Like It

5. Theme from Don Quixote Var. I

6. Theme from Hamlet Var. I

7. Theme from King Lear

8. Theme from Don Quixote Var. II

9. Main theme from Kin-Dza-Dza

10. Main theme from The Role For A Beginner

11. Theme from Twelfth Night

12. Main theme from Cinema

13. Theme from Hamlet Var. II

14. Waltz from Richard III

15. Theme from Mimino

16. Theme from Don Quixote Var. III

17. Main theme from When Almonds Blossomed

18. Waltz from The Eccentrics

19. Theme from Hamlet Var. III

20. Herio Bichebo from Earth, This Is Your Son

Dino Saluzzi (bandoneon),

Andrei Pushkarev (vibraphone),

Gidon Kremer (violin) Track 20 only:

Tbilisi Symphony Orchestra / Jansug Kahkidze (voice)

Argentine bandoneonist Dino Saluzzi, Latvian violinist Gidon Kremer and Ukrainian vibraphonist Andrei Pushkarev comprise a most-unexpected cast for ECM’s latest album devoted to Giya Kancheli. Recorded “in secret” as a surprise 75th birthday present for the great Georgian composer, this extremely beautiful album of gently exhaling melody features duo and trio interpretations of themes from Kancheli’s early music for stage and screen.

When embarking on his career, Kancheli also composed much incidental music for the theatre and the cinema. The film music in particular was very widely heard, all across the former Soviet Union, and many of the themes here (there are 20 on the album) enjoyed great popularity. In the West, however, it has remained largely unknown.

In 2009 Kancheli published a songbook featuring piano versions of the themes with a preface welcoming an improvisational approach to the material. With this in mind ECM decided to invite Dino Saluzzi to play the themes in his personal and highly creative way. Simultaneously Gidon Kremer, an old friend and champion of Kancheli’s music, expressed an interest in doing something special for Giya’s birthday. With both Kremer and Saluzzi involved, the project took on new dimensions. Finding links between the worlds of Kancheli, Kremer and Saluzzi is a task adroitly handled by Pushkarev. The vibraphonist prepared arrangements which were realized with Kremer in Riga, and he also worked in Oslo with Saluzzi, intuitively supporting Dino’s very relaxed approach.

The entire album feels like an audio-movie, a journey, and it’s certain to appeal to a very wide audience. Liner notes by the composer’s son, Sandro Kancheli, tell the story of the collaboration and provide background on the music.

ECM 2743230