HIRUNDO MARIS
Looking for New Horizons Book II

Description

In the realm of sound where time intertwines with the ethereal, the Looking for New Horizons trilogy emerges as a confluence of worlds both ancient and uncharted. Crafted with the meticulous passion of seasoned artisans, the three books of this project weave a rich tapestry of medieval European melodies, the profound depths of Turkish classical Ottoman music, and the soul-stirring timbres of Jewish musical traditions.

At the heart of this odyssey stand Arianna Savall, with her celestial soprano voice, harp, and lyre, Petter Udland Johansen, whose tenor voice, traditional violin, Hardanger fiddle, guiterne, and lyra embody the spirit of the Norsemen and Tristan Driessens whose musicianship has profound ability to build bridges between musical genres. Together with Efren Lopez with his array of stringed instruments, Derya Türkan’s haunting kemençe, and David Mayoral’s rhythmic mastery on percussion, cloches, and santur, they embark on a journey that transcends boundaries and eras.

Looking for New Horizons is not merely a trilogy of albums; it is a narrative voyage. Through the balance of storytelling, it invokes legends of kings and queens, poets, pirates, mercenaries, traders, and farmers, all of whom have tread the earth’s vast landscapes in search of meaning and connection. Each piece, meticulously arranged for this collection, is a window into the soul of the ages, offering listeners a passage through time.

Book I opens with Het Regent Zeer, a piece arranged by Tristan Driessens, setting the stage for a journey through the heart of medieval Europe and the Ottoman Empire. The album delves into the 12th-century musings of Jaufre Rudel and the timeless compositions of Guillaume de Machaut, before exploring Norwegian medieval ballads through Petter Udland Johansen’s arrangements. Arianna Savall’s composition of Rumi’s La mer et la pierre bridges the gap between the earthly and the divine, leading into the Eastern rhythms of instrumentals like Rast Peşrev ‘Murassa’.

Book II further deepens this exploration with the traditional Britain song Compainte de la Blanche Biche and more jewels of classical Ottoman music such as Nihavend-i Kebir Kâr from the Kantemir maunscript. It ventures into the mystical with Lev Tahor, a Jewish traditional piece arranged by Petter Udland Johansen.

Book III differs from the previous because it is carry out by the core line-up of this project. Arianna Savall, Petter Udland Johansen and Tristan Driessens showcase their deep human and musical affinities which are the fruit of a long term friendship. The final chapter of the trilogy opens with the Nordic Heiemo og Nökken and culminates in the medieval and Renaissance echoes of Mariam Matrem Virginem and Guillaume Dufay‘s Ave Maris Stella.

Looking for New Horizons is a sanctuary where the past and present coalesce, a journey across the seas of time. It invites listeners to traverse the landscapes of human emotion and experience, guided by the virtuosic hands of musicians who are not just performers but custodians of history’s whispers. In this sonic realm, every note is a step into the unknown, every harmony a new horizon beckoning. Petter Udland Johansen