The LutosAir Quintet concert will be an encounter with works of 21st-century chamber music – the distinguished pianist and composer Fazil Say from Ankara and Marsel Nichan, a versatile Swedish composer  whose composition will be premiered this evening. The repertoire will be completed by the Wind Quintet op. 52 by Theodor Blumer from the early 20th century.

The Alevi Dedeler Rakı Masasında Quintet for wind instruments, written by Fazil Say, is inspired by Turkish folklore. In four short movements, each beginning attacca, a scene from everyday life typical of Anatolian villages is humorously reflected: Alevi fathers, sitting together at a table, drink raki – a traditional Turkish alcoholic drink. Instruments with different timbres imitate the voices of men immersed in a lively discussion, as often happens over raki. Say translates this dispute into the score, emphasising the changes in its points of gravity, various moods and frequent phrases perfectly reflected in the brilliant sound of the work. It will precede the premiere of Marsel Nichan’s piece, the Ricochet. As Nichan emphasises, listening to this composition is to be an opportunity to immerse oneself in the complex world of communication. The five movements, which interact with each other, create a common “sound – voice – world”. The starting point for the author was Isaac Newton’s third law of dynamics, which states that if body A exerts a certain force on body B, then at the same time body B exerts a force of the same magnitude and the same direction on body A, although in the reverse turn. Nichan wanted to translate this process into spreading sound waves, which, bouncing off various surfaces, then reach the recipient, thus creating a ricochet.

The concert will conclude with Theodor Blumer’s Wind Quintet op. 52. Blumer was a German composer active the turn of the 20th century, and the biggest part of his body of work are pieces for wind instruments. For many years, he collaborated as a pianist with the wind quintet Königlich Musikalische zu Kapelle Dresden, which undoubtedly influenced his creative preferences. The featured piece, consisting of four movements, quickly gained fame due to its light, sophisticated sound.