Iancu Dumitrescu

Rare for more reasons than the music itself, Ansamblul Hyperion is a CD reissue of an LP of innovative contemporary music recorded by Romanian composer Iancu Dumitrescu’s Hyperion ensemble during Nicolae Ceaușescu’s 1967-1989 dictatorship. Non-conformist music was strictly regulated so the disc was revolutionary as well as representative. Not only does the eight piece plus guests group perform an extended Dumitrescu chamber piece but shorter themes by three slightly older Romanian composers whose forward-looking writing was similarly censured.

How repressive the regime was is demonstrated by the performance of Ștefan Niculescu’s “Sincronie”. Despite some repetition and drones, the narrative highlights gentle xylophone plinks, flute trills and multiple string elaborations leading to a resultant, almost Romantic  melody. More in-tune with the times are Octavian Nemescu’s “Combinații În Cercuri” which surrounds a simple so-called classical theme with ascending massed strings, reeds and brass echoes and blasts as well as watery electronic inferences and woody percussion thumps.

Dumitrescu’s own “Movemur et Sumus” uses only double bass, cello and percussion. It builds up cymbal scratches, sul ponticello string judders from low (bass) and higher (cello) pitches, advancing in broken octaves to reach an exposition that is squeezed, strained and spatial in equal parts, concluding with intersecting whistles and drones.

Corneliu Cezar’s “Rota” makes the most use of electronics. While the programmed voltage of constant squeaks, pennywhistle-like shrills and rocket-launching-like explosions were contemporary for that time their intersection with stretched ensemble organ-like drones is intermittent enough to prevent dominance from either the acoustic or the electronic side. Cannily though the two unite by the conclusion.

Firmly within the New music continuum of 45 years ago, Ansamblul Hyperion’s performances and compositions are engaging without being essential. Historically though, they prove once again more example of the creativity blocked by repressive regimes. For that reason they can be celebrated.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Iancu Dumitrescu, Movemur et Sumus (II + V) (1978) for cello, double bass, and percussion 2. Octavian Nemescu, Combinații În Cercuri (1965, version IV, 1980) or chamber ensemble and electronics 3. Ștefan Niculescu, Sincronie (1979) for chamber ensemble 4. Corneliu Cezar, Rota (1976 for chamber ensemble and electronics

Personnel: Ansamblul Hyperion: (tracks 2–4): Alexandru Graur (trombone);  Aurelian-Octav Popa (clarinet); Mihai Tănăsilă (bassoon); Voicu Vasinea (flute); Mihai Sofonea (viola); George Georgescu (cello); Ștefan Thomasz (bass + 1); Costin Petrescu (percussion) with Dimitrie Râpeanu (cello (1, 2); Cristian Văleanu, Olga Popov, Georgeta Radu (percussion (3); Iancu Dumitrescu (percussion-1, piano-3, conductor)