Idiosyncratic, large-scale and in its fundamental disposition one of a kind, Florian Weber’s Imaginary Cycle, conceived for the unique instrumentation of brass ensemble and piano, is a hybrid of multiple musical languages that seamlessly blends the harmonious with the oblique.

Here Weber presents a cycle in four parts, plus an opening and an epilogue, in which the German pianist is joined by a group of four euphoniums, a trombone quartet as well as flautist Anna-Lena Schnabel and Michel Godard on the seldomly used “serpent” brass instrument, together performing a work that blurs the line where improvisation ends and composition begins.

As the ensemble elegantly journeys across Florian’s multiple-idioms-spanning oeuvre, symphonic passages mingle with intricate counterpoint, pastoral notions are contrasted with textures more contemporary and each voice in the ensemble plays an independent part, adding to a whole. A daring and spectacular endeavour, Imaginary Cycle follows Florian’s contributions to the albums by Matthieu Bordenave, Ralph Alessi and his own quartet recording Lucent Waters – though the musical intersections between those albums and this one are few and equivocal. The project, recorded at Sendesaal Bremen in July 2023, was developed in close collaboration with Manfred Eicher, who produced the album.

PERSONNEL:

Florian Weber -(piano)
Corentin Morvan -(euphonium)
Jean Daufresne -(euphonium)
Patrick Wibart -(euphonium)
Vianney Desplantes  -(euphonium)
Lisa Stick -(trombone)
Sonja Beeh -(trombone)
Victoria Rose Davey -(trombone)
Maxine TroglauerBass  -(trombone)
Anna-Lena Schnabel -(flute)
Michel Godard -(tuba, Serpen)

Recorded on July 2022, Sendesaal Bremen

LP ONE:

A1. Prelude
A2. Opening I
A3. Opening II
A4. Opening III

B1. Word I
B2. Word II
B3. Word III
B4. Word IV
_____________________

LP TWO:

C1. Sacrifice I
C2. Sacrifice II
C3. Sacrifice III
C4. Sacrifice IV

D1. Blessing I
D2. Blessing II
D3. Blessing III
D4. Blessing IV
D5. Epilogue