For those unaware, 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 endeavor, 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.

1. Prelude (3:43)
2. Opening I (3:09)
3. Opening II (5:48)
4. Opening III (2:02)
5. Word I (2:47)
6. Word II (3:45)
7. Word III (3:32)
8. Word IV (4:48)
9. Sacrifice I (5:40)
10. Sacrifice II (6:01)
11. Sacrifice III (3:09)
12. Sacrifice IV (5:35)
13. Blessing I (1:58)
14. Blessing II (3:21)
15. Blessing III (3:20)
16. Blessing IV (3:31)
17. Epilogue (2:06)

The project, recorded at Sendesaal Bremen in July 2023, and which was developed in close collaboration with Manfred Eicher, who produced the album, opens on the flourishingly opulent Prelude before bringing us the trio of Opening: the delicate I, the more resounding II and the playfully furtive III, before we are brought forth the quartet of Word: an aching yearn that drives I, the harbored elegance of II, the foreboding III, culminating on the glistening beauty within IV.

Along next is the Sacrifice quartet: which opens on the portentous I and then brings us the lighter, yet still desolate fare of II, the palmy III, rounding out on the building grandeur of IV, the album concluding on the quartet of Blessing: opening on the robust I, the elegant gossamer that flows throughout II, the resplendence of III, finishing on the perky, flirtatiously encouraging IV, the recording closing out on the more sombre, yet resilient tones of Epilogue.

Featured Artists:
Florian Weber - Piano, Quatuor Opus 33
Corentin Morvan - Euphonium
Jean Daufresne - Euphonium
Patrick Wibart - Euphonium
Vianney Desplantes - Euphonium
Lisa Stick - Trombone
Sonja Beeh - Trombone
Victoria Rose Davey - Trombone
Maxine Troglauer - Bass Trombone
Anna-Lena Schnabel - Flute
Michel Godard - Tuba, Serpent

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