Iancu Dumitrescu - Galaxy (1993 compi of recordings 1971-1993)

The pattern of the early Edition Modern releases - whereby the odd numbers were new & archival works by Iancu Dumitrescu, and the even numbers were shared with Ana-Maria Avram - ended with this release; all subsequent discs would be shared, up until 2016.  Since Avram sadly died in 2017, it remains to be seen if Dumitrescu will continue writing and recording.  Galaxy, ED.MN.1005, is pure Dumitrescu at his clanking, clattering best, even if the recording vintages towards the end of this disc are a little lower-fi than would come to be expected.

The title track kicks off proceedings, and was composed & recorded in 1993, scored for three harryphones (a single-stringed instrument of Dumitrescu's design), three percussionists and computer sounds.  It starts out almost as violent as the notorious Pierres Sacreés (see links below), before calming down a bit to let the eerie strings and percussion stretch out.  Next is 18 minutes of Movemur Et Sumus III, composed 1978 and recorded 1993, for three double basses and percussion.  The legendary Fernando Grillo isn't among the bassists this time, but the three on this recording get a great slippery grinding (if that makes sense!) sound out of the layers of bass writing.

From here on in, it's vintage works and recordings all the way: Reliefs II for two orchestras and piano was composed and recorded in 1975, performed here by the Romanian Chamber Orchestra conducted by Iosif Conta.  Despite the drop in audio fidelity, it's still clear how darkly atmospheric Dumitrescu's writing was back in the 70s.  The following string quartet Memorial/Alternances (composed 1968) actually sounds clearer, despite being recorded in 1971 (at least according to the liner notes).  The disc concludes with another orchestral work, Basoreliefs Simphoniques, composed 1977 and featured here in a live performance from 1980, showing perhaps a bit of a Pendercki influence.


link
pw: sgtg

Previously posted on SGTG:
ED.MN.1001 - Medium/Cogito
ED.MN.1002 - Au Dela De Movemur
ED.MN.1003 - Pierres Sacreés
ED.MN.1004 - Musique de Paroles
ED.MM.1006 - A Priori
ED.MN.1008 - Five Pieces
ED.MN.1009 - Ouranos II 
ED.MN.1010 - Meteors & Pulsars 
ED.MN.1011 - Musique Action '98
ED.MN.1014 - Orbit of Eternal Grace
ED.MN.1018 - Remote Pulsar
ED.MN.1019 - In Tokyo