• Main Performer: Aldubáran
• Languages of Booklet Text: English, German, French, Faeroese

Review

Kári Bæk's works for the young chamber group Aldubáran may be representative of an emerging Faroese nationalism, as hinted in the liner notes; but listeners may find this music more attuned to the back-to-basics conservatism that is in vogue internationally. There is an attractive tonal ambiguity in some of Bæk's music, reminiscent of early twentieth century composers; this is most apparent in Afturundirgerd/Cross-Current for solo violin (1997) and the Duo for two violins (2001), where Bæk seems to evoke Richard Strauss or Bartók in his enharmonic modulations. Snjólýsi/Snow Light for solo flute (2000) also glances backward, most obviously to Debussy's Syrinx in its chromatic peregrinations. Yet Bæk's work sometimes displays a neo-Classical jauntiness, somewhat noticeable in the Prelude & March for winds, strings and piano (1996-1997), but quite pronounced in the Elegy and Humoresque for bassoon and piano (1996). This rather genial music shows some weaknesses, though, most clearly a lack of technical virtuosity and too few challenging ideas. Whether Bæk writes this way to match the skills of the ensemble or to be intelligible to his audience, one cannot be sure. However, the group's performances are clean and effective, and Bæk's pieces are pleasant and attractive, if lacking in emotional depth and originality. ~ Blair Sanderson, All Music Guide

Performances

Composer	Title	Time
Kári Bæk	Prelude & March, for 8 instruments	10:51
Kári Bæk	Afturundirgerð (Cross-Current), for solo violin	12:24
Kári Bæk	Elegie og Humoresque for bassoon & piano	9:25
Kári Bæk	Snjólýsi (Snow Light), for solo flute	8:17
Kári Bæk	Duo for 2 violins	8:06