Manfred Eicher

Der Rest ist der Wahnsinn der Kunst
A review of the ECM Records paperback (December 16, 2024).

We work in the dark - we do what we can - we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion, and our passion is our task. The rest is the madness of art. - Henry James, used as an epigraph for "ECM New Series: A Compendium."

Per usual, with my Estonian heritage I'll confess to a complete bias here as the recordings of Manfred Eicher's ECM Records and ECM New Series have been among my favourites of all show more time going back as far as the 1960s. From the New Series this of course includes all the records with Estonian composers such as Cyrillus Kreek, Heino Eller, Arvo Pärt, Veljo Tormis, Erkki-Sven Tüür, Helena Tulve and Tõnu Korvits. It includes the performers the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, the NYYD Ensemble, the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and the Vox Clamantis vocal ensemble. It includes the conductors Tõnu Kaljuste, Jaan-Eik Tulve, Olari Elts and Anu Tali.

Aside from revisiting those favourites, my reading and looking through this ECM New Series Compendium reminded me of many other ear-opening landmarks in my listening history. I remember first hearing Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians (1978) in Toronto's Sam the Record Man's 2nd floor classical area and thinking "What is this crazy repetitive music, which is so compelling and hypnotic?" I remember first hearing the Hilliard Ensemble & Jan Garbarek's ethereal chant/jazz cross-over Officium (1994) and finding it the most perfect way to enjoy medieval music. And of course there was the first ever hearing of Arvo Pärt's Tabula Rasa (1984) with its slowing softly fading ending Silentium movement which, in the words of one of the first listeners at its premiere performance, caused him to "grip onto my chair as I had the feeling that I would otherwise float away into the air."

There was also the discovery of at least two upcoming ECM New Series releases that are listed in this book but are not yet released. Those are Arvo Pärt's "And I Heard A Voice" and Erkki-Sven Tüür's "Aeris." Presumably those will be 2025 releases.
See sample pages at https://scontent-ord5-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/473236769_29148769821388426_8...
and at https://scontent-ord5-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/473570018_29174334982165243_2...

Aside from the discography itself (album covers & catalogue #s with performer details and recording dates), which is divided into a section of composers and a section of performers, there is an introduction and interview with ECM Records producer Manfred Eicher (in German with English translations), photographs of the artists with selected quotes, photographs from recording sessions, film stills from selected movies which used ECM music soundtracks and finally an index reference at the back. The book does not seem to be ordered in any chronological or alphabetical order, allowing for random discoveries along the way.

This was a treasure trove of discography which allowed for time travel back over 40+ years of listening with a peek at the future, along with some enticements to follow up on recordings which I missed along the way.

Soundtrack
Listen to and watch a variety of videos on ECM New Series recordings at the ECM Records YouTube channel here.

There are an enormous number of ECM New Series recordings to listen to on Spotify, including those in an immense playlist ECM New Series Classical which you can listen to here. show less