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Release Date: 26-10-1998
Label: Celestial Harmonies
Catalog Number: 11093-2
Barcode: 13711109320
Musical Style: Classical
Description:
A philosophical dichotomy is the theme of composer Peter Michael Hamel's inspired and beautiful works, The Arrow of Time/The Cycle of Time. In these two exquisite scores, he explores mankind's two great concepts of time: first, that time is an arrow pointing forever toward the future and second, that time is cyclic, forever repeating itself. These two tenets have shaped man's beliefs and understanding of the world. Music is the perfect medium for the exploration of such concepts, as music is itself inexorably linked to time, the beat of the music linked to the beat of the clock. Music, like time, is subjective and mysterious. The first composition, The Arrow of Time, is a dynamic piece, sometimes strong and at other moments gentle, but always perceptive. Its five movements build on a central motif introduced at the onset. The Cycle of Time, with its unusual harpsichord renderings, is a more flowing work in four movements. Both pieces are undeniably stirring and demonstrative. Although Hamel is a modern composer known for his complex musical substance, his complexity in no way overshadows the dramatic emotion of these two works. The Arrow of Time and The Cycle of Time are remarkably accessible pieces, which the listener can enjoy independently or as a duality. The musicianship on this recording is unsurpassed. The orchestra and conductor are Czechoslovakian and unequivocally masters. With the opening of Eastern Europe, this is the first time these superb musicians have recorded a modern composer's works for release worldwide. The engineering, likewise, is of the utmost quality. Included in the CD booklet is an extensive essay on the philosophical concepts of time. These elements together create an artistic triumph.
Biography:
Award–winning artist and composer, Peter Michael Hamel, has written music for stage, radio plays and silent movies, as well as orchestral pieces and an opera. In addition to receiving formal musical training in Munich, where he also studied psychology and sociology, Hamel spent time in Asia exploring the Eastern musical traditions. He has authored a book entitled Through Music to the Self which discusses the effects on the human psyche of various Far Eastern improvisational techniques, relating them to Western music's harmonic approach. Hamel's focus on the meditative and spiritual qualities of music, his interest in new improvisational techniques and his decisive talent as a musician and composer are evident in this collection of masterpieces.
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