A central theme in our work is telling a personal story: as musicians, as a duo, and through our own interests and fascinations. We are also passionate about bringing attention to music, stories and instruments that do not always receive the recognition they deserve. Rituals grew from friendship, a love of experimentation and unusual repertoire, and the sheer pleasure of making music together. We have worked closely with Hamburg-based composer, author and musician Sören Sieg on many occasions. In the summer of 2022, he approached FR2 with the idea of creating a CD devoted to his music for two recorders and piano, with the composer himself at the piano.
The project evolved into a collection of new works and reworkings of existing compositions, united by the overarching theme of ritual. Rituals give meaning, structure time and connect cultures and communities. This album explores them in their spiritual, social, emotional and artistic forms, alongside themes of reminiscence and transformation. Rituals convey meaning. They structure time, shape lives, and hold cultures and communities together. At the heart of this album lies a fascination with ritual in all its forms – spiritual, social, emotional, and artistic.
The three-part Imbalu draws inspiration from the initiation ritual of the Bamasaba people of Uganda, tracing the anticipation before the festival (Inemba), the night before the ceremony (Lulwanda), and the exuberant celebration itself (Kamayiya). The Dervish and the Devil takes its inspiration from the Sufi whirling dance of Cyprus, building from a dark, meditative opening towards an ecstatic climax.
The circus inspires Circus Suite, where virtuosity, humour and illusion take centre stage, from the energy of The Jugglers and Acrobat Battle to the dreamlike nostalgia of Magic (soap) Bubbles.
The album also explores homecoming, beauty and emotional reflection. Inspired by Robert Burns’ A Red, Red Rose, Though it were ten thousand Mile expresses the longing of those separated from their loved ones and the joy of returning home. Karungi (‘beauty’ in Luganda) seeks simplicity and stillness through a three-note melody, while Sad Song pays homage to the polyphony of Johann Sebastian Bach. The joyful encore She’s so Excited returns to the African-inspired style for which Sören Sieg is well known in the recorder world.
Click here to see a short video fragment of Magic Bubbles, the third movement of the suite Kampala Circus. You can listen to the beautiful Lulwanda for tenor, greatbass and piano here:
For almost all the works on this album, we chose the ‘dynamic’ recorders made by the Swiss instrument maker Geri Bollinger. Their distinctive design, unique windway and remarkable flexibility of tone make them a perfect match for Sören Sieg’s music: warm, nuanced and expressive. Their sound can be soft, sensual, raw or whispering, with an exceptional freedom of dynamics and timbre.Their distinctive design, unique windway and remarkable flexibility of tone make them a perfect match for Sören Sieg’s music: warm, nuanced and expressive. Their sound can be soft, sensual, raw or whispering, with an exceptional freedom of dynamics and timbre.
FR2 previously recorded The Dervish and the Devil for the Aeolus label. Reworked by the composer, this spectacular piece for recorders and cajóns now appears in a new version on this album:
The recording took place in July in Warsaw, Poland. FR2’s favourite sound engineer Ulrich Lorscheider was in charge of the sound! This cd is out nown, as a physical cd. Customers that acquire the album het the music in digital mp3 formet for free in their mailbox. We also offer an mp3-download only through our webshop.
