Drones by Nico Muhly
I started writing the Drones pieces as a method of developing harmonic ideas over a static structure. The idea is something not unlike singing along with one’s vacuum cleaner, or with the subtle but constant humming found in most dwelling-places. We surround ourselves with constant noise, and the Drones pieces are an attempt to honor these drones and stylize them. -Nico Muhly
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Drones consists of the Nico Muhly’s three EP’s Drones & Piano, Drones & Viola and Drones & Violin, with a special bonus composition. Performing the pieces are Bruce Brubaker, Nadia Sirota and Pekka Kuusisto along with Muhly himself. Drones was recorded and produced by Valgeir Sigurðsson in the Greenhouse studios in Iceland.
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These are drones with an intellect. -The Atlantic
...expressive, enchanting, moving skein. -The Telegraph
...a lilting, sometimes arch set of modern classical composition – by no means intimidating to neophytes, and encoded with delightful little motifs. -FACT Magazine
... the bedrock of these pieces becomes highly charged; stuck within a confined space they so desperately want to break free of. -Drowned In Sound
...the results are captivating and continue to strengthen the case for Nico Muhly as one of the world’s consistently brilliant young composers. -Boomkat
Tracklist
| 1. | Part I | 3:21 |
| 2. | Part II | 3:01 |
| 3. | Part III (The 8th Tune) | 1:02 |
| 4. | Part IV | 3:31 |
| 5. | Part V | 2:44 |
| 6. | Part I Material in D | 3:50 |
| 7. | Part II Material in a Handsome Stack | 2:54 |
| 8. | Part III Material with no Tricks | 1:56 |
| 9. | Part IV Material in a Long Cadence | 4:47 |
| 10. | Part I Material in Eb | 3:27 |
| 11. | Part II Material in Sevenths | 2:19 |
| 12. | Part III Material in Two Keys | 2:20 |
| 13. | Part IV Material with Shifting Drones | 2:59 |
Credits
All music composed by Nico Muhly
©2010-2012 St. Rose Music Publishing Co., Inc. (ASCAP)
Produced by Valgeir Sigurðsson
Bruce Brubaker Piano
Nadia Sirota Viola
Pekka Kuusisto Violin
Nico Muhly Piano, Drones
Engineered by Paul Evans
Mixed by Valgeir Sigurðsson & Paul Evans
Recorded & Mixed at Greenhouse Studios, Reykjavík
Additional Recording at Downtown Music Studios, New York City.
Additional Engineering by Dan Bora
Mastered at Greenhouse Studios, Reykjavík by Valgeir Sigurðsson
Studio manager: Sturla Mio Þórisson
Assistant: Luke Howard, Einar Stefánsson and Jonathan Kawchuk
Design by Chris Bigg
Photography by Luís Filipe Cunha
Drones & Piano: Commissioned by the Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival
Drones & Violin: Commissioned by the Muziekgebouw, Eindhoven
℗&© 2012 Bedroom Community
All rights of the producer and the owner of this recorded work reserved.
Unauthorized copying, public performance, broadcasting, hiring or rental of this recording prohibited.
License
All rights reserved.
Nico Muhly is a composer of orchestral music, stage works and sacred music. His work for film includes scores for for The Reader and the BBC adaptation of Howards End. Recordings of his works have been released by Decca and Nonesuch, and he is part of the artist-run record label Bedroom Community, which released his first two albums, Speaks Volumes and Mothertongue.