Violin was Milan Knizak's first instrument. He has
composed hundred of works of this ilk. The first
one DHK, 45 years ago.
Next to his destroyed works, Milan took notations
of different composers, cut them and put them
together (with his own score) into a collage,
expressing his feelings and his apprehension
of music.
'I am aware that the majority of my compositions are technically
challenging, since I employ uncommon intervals, so as to make
the musicians think in a different, novel way and to produce
different colours in the “classical” passages too. If the instruments
were arrayed “beneath one another”, simple melodies may come
across as boring. In the case of interval skips, whereby I count
with a certain fuzziness, even falseness of tones, music is far
more colourful.
I don't care who would perform my pieces, as long as they are
solid musicians. I think I have written them in such a manner
that they should not forfeit energy even when someone is not
familiar with the modern playing principles, only their effect would
somewhat shift. And I really don't mind any shift.
One of my friends said that this music of mine is not similar to
anything. I would like to add that it is similar to everything.
Perhaps both are true.' Milan Knizak, April 2018
Recorded from February till July 2018
and performed by fama Q
David Danel, Roman Hranicka violin
Ondrej Martinovsky viola
Balázs Adorján violoncello
fama Q is a string quartet founded in 2005 in Prague.
Its members, being also orchestral musicians with the Prague
Philharmonia, were always devoted to chamber and string
quartet music making. fama Q presents regularly the works
of contemporary composers, be it the traditional approaches
of 20th century or the avant-garde classics as well as prominent
international and Czech composers of these days
supported by 7 fans who also own “String Quartets”
This is a wonderful album. Such lovely energy in the music. The story of Julius Eastman is really one of the most truly sad ... how he just fell through the cracks of society and care. Racism I guess. So I feel sad when I listen to the music but still enjoy it immensely and celebrate the man. Stephen Davies
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