Fratres

Sensing a special relationship between Arvo Pärt and J.S. Bach, Jörgen van Rijen on his first recording for BIS Records brings together music by the two composers. It’s a relationship which has several aspects. First, Pärt has readily admitted to his love for the work of Bach, referring to it in titles such as Collage über BACH, but also by using the motif BACH (B flat-A-C-B). In addition, both composers share a fascination for religion, while at the same time composing music that is almost mathematically constructed, possessing an underlying order that forms the basis of its timelessness. In collaboration with the composer, van Rijen has adapted four works by Pärt for the trombone, including the celebrated piece Fratres, which exists in numerous versions, as well as the two religiously themed An den Wassern zu Babel … and Vater unser.

Pärt’s open-minded attitude to adaptations of his works is also something he has in common with Bach, who regularly reused his own compositions, rearranging them for new occasions. Bach also ‘borrowed’ from other composers, and the three concertos heard here are all arrangements for solo organ of works by Italian composers, which van Rijen in his turn has arranged for trombone and strings. Principal trombonist of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Jörgen van Rijen is here supported by his colleagues in Camerata RCO.

Arvo Pärt:
 Fratres

J.S. Bach:
 Concerto in D minor, BWV 974, after A. Marcello

Arvo Pärt:
 Vater Unser

J.S. Bach:
 Concerto In D major, BWV 972, after Vivaldi

Arvo Pärt:
 An den Wassern zu Babel sassen wir und weinten

J.S. Bach:
 Concerto in C minor, BWV 981, after B. Marcello

Arvo Pärt:
 Pari Intervallo

Meditatieve kracht en barokke drive

‘Arvo Pärt componeert oude muziek in een nieuw jasje’, aldus Jörgen van Rijen. Deze gedachte was voor de briljante solotrombonist van het Concertgebouworkest aanleiding om vier meeslepende werken van Pärt af te wisselen met Johann Sebastian Bachs bewerkingen van soloconcerten van de broers Marcello en Vivaldi tot klavecimbelconcerten. Van Rijen transformeert ze tot volbloed tromboneconcerten. Ook Fratres, Unser Vater, Pari Intervallo en An den Wassern zu Babel van Pärt bewerkte hij met toestemming en uiteindelijke goedkeuring van de componist tot meesterwerken met de trombone in de hoofdrol. Een plaat waarop de trombone even lyrisch zingt als virtuoos dartelt en waarop de afwisseling van Pärts meditatieve kracht en de barokke drive heilzaam werken. Vooral ook omdat Camerata RCO, samengesteld uit collega’s van Van Rijen bij het Concertgebouworkest, voor een heerlijk tapijt zorgt waarboven de trombonist kan excelleren.

Dé cd van dit moment om echt van de trombone te gaan houden.