Stefano Battaglia & Michele Rabbia: Pastorale

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In this beautiful duo album by two of Italy’s most creative musicians, roles are frequently overturned, as lyrical percussion shades into electronics and texture turns to melody. Stefano Battaglia reminds us that the piano is also a percussion instrument and Michele Rabbia is sensitive to all the tonal implications of drums and cymbals. The musicians play with and without scores in material that is variously open-form, tightly-controlled, inspired by folk idioms, by liturgical music and by art installations. Battaglia allows beautiful themes to ripple through the work, and sounds are given room to blossom. Duets for piano and percussion have long represented an important zone in the work of Stefano Battaglia (in the early 1990s, he collaborated with both Tony Oxley and Pierre Favre). Since 2000, Michele Rabbia has been Battaglia’s principal percussionist, appearing on both of his previous ECM releases – “Raccolto” and “Re: Pasolini” – as an ensemble member and fellow improviser. On “Pastorale” the musicians shape the music together.

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Tracks:

1. Antifona libera (a Enzo Bianchi)
2. Metaphysical Consolations
3. Monasterium
4. Oracle
5. Kursk Requiem
6. Cantar del alma
7. Spirits of Myths
8. Pastorale
9. Sundance in Balkh
10.Tanztheater (in memory of Pina Bausch)
11.Vessel of Magic

Stefano Battaglia: piano, prepared piano
Michele Rabbia: percussion, electronic