Country : United States Label : Neuma Genres and styles : Contemporary Year : 2024

Elisabet Curbelo – Resonance Unbound

· by Frédéric Cardin

Curbelo is a Utah-based composer who defines herself as nomadic. She has lived in the Canary Islands, Madrid, Turkey, San Diego… Resonance Unbound is a program of seven pieces freely inspired by her temporary residencies. Canarian Bayram describes, in superimposition, a traditional Canarian procession (through popular melodies) and a Turkish military march. All in a fine, visually evocative style. Very nice. 

Fantasia flamenca is written for flamenco dancer and electronics. If you’re expecting a discharge of foot-tapping and hand-clapping, you’ll be amazed at the relative discretion of said traditional expressions associated with this dance. Through synthetic sound manipulations, the scene evoked looks more like a ghostly choreography where a translucent, ethereal flamenca gently oscillates between a visible incarnation and a tacit, immaterial presence. 

Roxanne’nin Dönüsümü is a work inspired by Musique concrète techniques. For a time, Curbelo lived in the constant hubbub of Istanbul, an over-expanded human anthill. She uses the sounds of everyday objects to create a framework that is, on the whole, calmer than one might imagine.

Mikrop, Epulos and L’anello all use the same rigorous abstraction techniques, despite the difference in instrumentation (alto/electronics, prepared double bass and small ensemble, respectively). Classic experimental avant-garde, referring here to micro-organisms (Mikrop, Epulos), elsewhere to the shimmer of a diamond (L’anello).

My favorite piece, a real coup de cœur, is Kara Toprak, for voice and kanun, a traditional instrument played in Turkey. Here, a beautiful blend of contemporary art music and Turkish tradition creates an enchanting, timeless little world. The beauty of the voice (Curbelo herself) and the original writing for the kanun (excellent Sanaz Nakhjavani) make this an evocative gem. 

Elizabet Curbelo is a composer to watch. The eclecticism of her writing makes for unpredictable, but always interesting listening.

Latest 360 Content

Tim Brady – Imagine Many Guitars

Tim Brady – Imagine Many Guitars

Andile Khumalo – Tracing Hollow Traces

Andile Khumalo – Tracing Hollow Traces

APACALDA – She’s Not Coming

APACALDA – She’s Not Coming

Ingurgitating Oblivion – Ontology of Naught

Ingurgitating Oblivion – Ontology of Naught

Blood Incantation –  Absolute Elsewhere

Blood Incantation –  Absolute Elsewhere

Of light and musical velvet : SMCQ’s first concert of the season

Of light and musical velvet : SMCQ’s first concert of the season

Marcos Valle – T​ú​nel Ac​ú​stico

Marcos Valle – T​ú​nel Ac​ú​stico

FLUX | Wadada Leo Smith, One of Creative Music’s Most Prolific

FLUX | Wadada Leo Smith, One of Creative Music’s Most Prolific

The Marley Brothers and Dad’s Legacy

The Marley Brothers and Dad’s Legacy

Dankoroba, Djely Tapa’s Tribute to the Influential Women of the Manding Empire

Dankoroba, Djely Tapa’s Tribute to the Influential Women of the Manding Empire

Center PHI | Exhibition Clusters, Clusters of Meaningful Objects

Center PHI | Exhibition Clusters, Clusters of Meaningful Objects

OSM | Four Seasons, Two Eras, Vivaldi and Piazzolla

OSM | Four Seasons, Two Eras, Vivaldi and Piazzolla

Alice Ping Yee Ho – Awake and Dreaming

Alice Ping Yee Ho – Awake and Dreaming

Elisabet Curbelo – Resonance Unbound

Elisabet Curbelo – Resonance Unbound

Paramirabo – Voix jetées

Paramirabo – Voix jetées

Mélanie Harel – Envols

Mélanie Harel – Envols

Over the moon with Kaytranada

Over the moon with Kaytranada

SHEAL – golden hours

SHEAL – golden hours

POP Montréal | Beautiful Trafic on the Road to Lhasa

POP Montréal | Beautiful Trafic on the Road to Lhasa

POP Montreal | On Third Try, Larynx Emerges For Good

POP Montreal | On Third Try, Larynx Emerges For Good

POP Montreal | Patrick Watson Ecumenical

POP Montreal | Patrick Watson Ecumenical

POP Montréal | Nabihah Iqbal, Authentic and Universal

POP Montréal | Nabihah Iqbal, Authentic and Universal

Subscribe to our newsletter