Martin Taxt

Continuing his examination of microtonal tuba timbre affiliation and the spatial properties of performance spaces, Norwegian tubiast/composer Martin Taxt expands his sonic architecture adding accents from other instruments. The four slowly evolving and transformative tracks here move away from his experiments with the all-tuba Microtub trio. The performances include overtones from Rolf Erik Nystrøm’s alto saxophone, Laura Marie Rueslåtten’s pipe organ. Inga Margrete Aas’ double bass and from the synthesizer and tuba of Peder Simonsen, also a member of Microtub

One track is delineated differently when all the musicians add the clapper strokes and copper-tin reverberations from symmetrically vibrated hand bells. But despite this the expected broken octave affiliation is maintained, as brass burbles, string plinks and aviary reed trills intermingle with idiophone echoes.

That anomoly aside, dynamics of the session are built up in the construction of a sonic edifice whose density is confirmed through the unbreakable foundation meld of pipe organ tremolos, synthesizer drones and slobbering grace notes from the tubas. However the designed flat-line hum is often briefly pushed aside for interludes of mandolin-pitched string strokes, reed flutters and tubas in double counterpoint, with one echoing mountain-high grace notes and the other basement brass scoops.

Dual tuba counterpoint is at its most descriptive on the concluding “Disruption, Disjunction, Deconstruction”, which is less fragmented than the title would suggest. One portamento brass buzz is perfectly complemented by secondary tuba vibrations ascending to room-shaking snorts. By the track’s second half, sul tasto string strokes, electronic buzzes and organ washes move to the forefront lurching up and down the scale and from noisy to silent interludes as spiraling textures become fainter and finally dissolve. This is a completion and reverse image of “Cave vs Nest”, which begins the session. Referencing froggy slurs, these  pitches are blended with electronic interface into a harsh concentrated crescendo. Simultaneously the last track’s ending punctures the concentrated mass to expose humanistic musical architecture. It also confirms Taxt’s dual skills.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Cave vs Nest 2. Swelling Forms Of Domes 3. Paving Seen From Above 4. Disruption, Disjunction, Deconstruction

Personnel:  Rolf Erik Nystrøm (alto saxophone, handbells);  Martin Taxt (microtonal tuba, handbells); Peder Simonsen (microtonal tuba, handbells, modular synthesizer); Laura Marie Rueslåtten  (organ, handbells) and Inga Margrete Aas (bass, handbells)