Mico Nonet
The Marmalade Balloon
© 2007 Mico Nonet (751937315827)
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A minimalist layer of ambient analog synthesizers with cello, viola, french horn and oboe improvised by members of The Philadelphia Orchestra and Berlin Philharmonic.
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"The Marmalade Balloon is the year's ultimate flirtation with subtlety and seductiveness. Existing somewhere between the neo-classical and the ambient, Mico Nonet fashion a world that is hazy and succinct, at times dark and haunting and others playful and inspiring, but always open to personal interpretation. The balance between musicians is gracefully maintained, where neither the electronics nor the strings are ever overly pronounced as to withdraw the listener from the intoxicating, spellbinding trance which The Marmalade Balloon invokes. The future will certainly take this musical act on a variety of different presentations, but with their strong understanding of musical space and development, we're confident that they'll be a favorite for years to come. " Jordan Volz, The Silent Ballet
"Once all the synths and sequencers have echoed out and it is time to return to Earth, STAR'S END turns to The Marmalade Balloon (36'42"), a smart, artfully constructed EP by Mico Nonet. Played on conventional chamber instruments (viola, cello, oboe, french horn) plus a well-hidden synthesizer, this work combines the idea of ambient music with the sophisticated sensibilities of the classical quartet. The most difficult part of this undertaking was in directing the virtuosic talents of four seasoned orchestra musicians towards a music that achieves a sustained atmosphere - away from the familiar climax and release of their repertoire. The Marmalade Balloon succeeds in maintaining a gradual coalescence throughout. Somber thematic workings move with deliberate slowness as this group carefully strides towards a sense of quiet musical contemplation. Through a unique intuition, the musicians leave enough room not only for one another, but for silence as well. The result is an incredibly beautiful and elegant music, so fragile that at any moment it may dissolve into thin air." Chuck van Zyl, Star's End Ambient Radio
bios:
carrie dennis, viola. carrie is principal viola of the berlin philharmonic. she was previously assistant principal viola of the philadelphia orchestra, and a member of the chamber orchestra of philadelphia. she received both her bachelor of music degree in violin and artist's diploma in viola from the curtis Institute of music. carrie has participated in the marlboro music festival and toured with musicians from marlboro, and has also appeared at music from angel fire, the moritzburg festival, the tanglewood music festival, the new york string seminar, and the verbier festival where she won the juchum musical award.
efe baltacigil, cello. efe is associate principal cello of the philadelphia orchestra. he received his bachelor’s degree from mimar sinan university conservatory in his native istanbul, turkey, and then received his artist’s diploma at the curtis institute, where he was the recipient of the jacqueline dupree scholarship. since then he has won the 2005 young concert artists international auditions, an avery fisher career grant, and has been awarded the peter jay sharp prize. in addition to participating in yo yo ma’s silk road project, the marlboro music festival and touring with musicians from marlboro, he is a member of lincoln center’s chamber music society ii.
joshua lee kramer, synthesizer, producer. joshua played guitar, bass, keyboards and lap steel in matt pond pa, and can be heard on the albums: deer apartments, measure, this is not the green fury, and the green fury. rolling stone recently featured matt pond pa as one of the "top ten artists to watch for 2006." joshua has also created original electronic music for the oxygen channel, two pbs aired documentaries titled "imprint" and "activate," and produced and recorded sessions with caterpillar, the delta 72, the goats, p.w. long, jimmy scott, latimer, and matt pond pa.
paul lafollette, horn. paul is acting principal horn of the richmond symphony, and previously played principal horn with the orquesta sinfonica del estado de mexico. he received his bachelor of music degree from the curtis institute of music. he has attended the marlboro music festival, toured with musicians from marlboro, and played principal horn in the verbier festival. paul has performed with martha argerich, evgeny kissin, and mischa maisky, and is also a founding member of the astral winds woodwind quintet, in which he performs with katherine needleman.
katherine needleman, oboe. principal oboist of the baltimore symphony, katherine has appeared as soloist with the philadelphia orchestra, the saint paul chamber orchestra, the orquesta sinfónica nacional de colombia. she received her bachelor in music degree from the curtis institute of music, has attended the marlboro music festival, and toured with musicians from marlboro. she won first prize at the gillet-fox competition of the international double reed society as well as the national arts club's tilden prize for oboe. she has appeared as guest principal oboe with the new york philharmonic, boston symphony, and the saint paul chamber orchestra. she is on the faculty of the peabody conservatory.
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Peaceful
author: zoom girlFunny, I came to this choice because it's linked with Sigur Ros, mum, & Brian Eno. That wouldn't be my categorisation -- it's way more accessible, occasionally bordering on mainstream, than the other artists named. Yet it's got some serious indie cred. I can play it loud and not go running for the volume when my mother stops in for a visit. Go figure. A good purchase.