Search - Paul Giger :: Paul Giger: Schattenwelt

Giger's Macrocosmos of Shadows

John de Marisco | 07/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Paul Giger is perhaps the most virtuosic violinist alive. This collection of his haunting compositions for solo violin is shattering, not only for the amazing technique utilized to create unique sound, but he reinvents playing the violin practically altogether. It's hard to classify his work, but this is influenced by gyspy music and the American minimalism of Reich and Glass. It has a smattering of the Eastern European spiritualism of Part, Gorecki, and others. It's energetic, poignant, slashing, it's all over the place. It's quite amazing. Some sections sound like a wind orchestra, other parts sound like a alarm going off. There's a full range here, and it really is a new world. Giger creates a macrocosmos; in this case, a shadow world.



I found this CD today at a dollar store because the case had been damaged. I hadn't heard of Giger before this, but I saw that its label was Ecm Records, the same company that fronted Arvo Part's music. So that intrigued me. Part is one of my absolute favorite composers. I want to get Giger's other albums. I can't stop playing Schattenwelt, it's infectious. It is more than highly recommended. It's probably not for everybody, but if you like Reich or Part or Gubaidulina or anbody else fronted by Ecm, get this disc."

Shadow World

John de Marisco | 11/26/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Paul Giger is clearly one of the greatest violinists since Paganini. The music on this disc is at the sime time delicate, haunting, sinister, uplifting, fragile, crushing. NO ONE in the world plays like Giger. Returning more to the sounds of his earlier "Chartres" release, "Schattenwelt" moves away from the more gentle sounds of "Alpstein," Giger's homage work to the Alpine folk traditions of Switzerland.It scarcely sounds like a violin. Light, delicate technique. Giger plays the violin as if it were a flute. I want to SEE this guy play just to be sure it's really a violin.Based on the myth of the Minotaur in the Labyrinth of King Minos, disc is divided into three pieces. Sort of a musical sandwich really, with the counterparts "Bay" and "Bombay" at either end of the "Labyrinth" suite.Not a disc to get your mother for Mother's Day."

Shadowy? Maybe

Michael A. Scarpitti | Columbus, Ohio USA | 12/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Schattenwelt, or "Shadow-world" is a striking and thrilling album. Giger's violin is used as a storyteller, as he wends you down the corridors and mysterious passages of his compositions. Not to be confused with "New Age" music, this work is more post-modern, but with a certain quality of line and thrust."