Kudsi Erguner: ney, artistic direction, arrangments,
Tristan Driessens: oud,
Yiorgos Bereris: piano.
EN/ George Ivanovitch Gurdjieff, whose teaching proposes work on oneself and on consciousness, profoundly influenced twentieth-century spirituality. After numerous journeys to the Middle East and Asia in search of spiritual traditions, he settled in France in the 1920s and inspired many artists and intellectuals. He transmitted his teaching notably through the “sacred movements” and through music, whose melodies were transcribed for piano by Thomas de Hartmann.
Drawing on sound archives, Kudsi Erguner Ney Flute Player, in collaboration with oud player Tristan Driessens and pianist Yiorgos Bereris, now offers a reinterpretation of these pieces as a meeting between the piano and the maqams of Sufi music, reflecting a spiritual teaching that is neither Eastern nor Western.
FR/ George Ivanovitch Gurdjieff, dont l’enseignement propose un travail sur soi et sur la conscience, a profondément marqué la spiritualité du XXᵉ siècle. Après de nombreux voyages au Moyen-Orient et en Asie à la recherche de traditions spirituelles, il s’installe en France dans les années 1920 et inspire de nombreux artistes et intellectuels. Il transmet son enseignement notamment à travers les « mouvements sacrés » et la musique, dont les mélodies furent transcrites pour piano par Thomas de Hartmann.
À partir des archives sonores, Kudsi Erguner, en collaboration avec le joueur de oud Tristan Driessens et pianiste Yiorgos Bereris, propose aujourd’hui une réinterprétation de ces pièces comme une rencontre entre le piano et les maqâms de la musique soufie, à l’image d’un enseignement spirituel qui n’est ni d’Orient ni d’Occident.
“Remembrance of a Forgotten Path” is a fresh, inspired work, rich in colors and moods, far removed from certain stilted interpretations of Gurdjeff/de Hartmann’s work. Instead, it approaches the material by seeking the original inspiration that gave rise to it, thereby shedding light on a picture that had become rather dull over the years. Throughout the album, the musicians engage in deep dialogue and listen intently to one another, and their level of interplay is admirable. The arrangements are one of the standout features, as they elegantly navigate the contrasts between solo and ensemble, and between theme and improvisation. In short, “Remembrance” is a highly successful work that deserves to be listened to again and again, and to which we wish every success.
Giovanni De Zorzi, Blogfoolf, Venice, Italy full article
