Music by Gerd Bessler
Published by Ulli A. Ruetzel Publishing
Produced by Gerd Bessler and Ulli A. Ruetzel
Studio: Musicfactory Seven Oaks
Musicians: gerd bessler – piano / viola / viola d'amore (14 string type) / guitar
clema strass - violoncello
dizzi fischer - trombone
photos and art-concept by Birgit Bessler
MAKE A RULE, BREAK A RULE : BESSLER
Bessler´s masterly examination of the most conflicting musical trends and tendencies is not at least a result of his longstanding preoccupation with the role of dramatic stage music in the international art business. His creative work as an artist brought him together with Tom Waits, Philip Glass, William S. Burroughs and Robert Wilson.
Being a multi-instrumentalist, he sovereignly "commutes" between archaic structures and the highly developed sound world of the avant-garde. His involvement in contemporary music brought him into personal and artistic contact with Californian photographer Betty Freeman, who probably is the most important patron of new music and has supported many composers, from John Cage to Steve Reich.
Like most of his other works, his new release "BOG OAK" was realized at the same place where he has composed his many prize-winning compositions for radio plays – at "SEVEN OAKS", a storm-tossed farmhouse in Northern Germany which, as the name suggests, is indeed surrounded by seven mighty oaks.
In Bessler´s music heavily rocking guitars clash with the filigreely elaborated clusters of the viola d´amore, resulting in a radical break of the musical pigeon-hole thinking which is so characteristic for the expectations of most listeners. Sometimes his music is raw, unplugged, earthy and genuine, and then, without warning, it suddenly and unexpectedly changes into complexly composed structures of sophistication and finesse.
By doing so, the studied musicologist and composer leads us into the complex splitting-up and simultaneous symbiotisation of musical worlds, values and materials.
Thrillingly vital musicality.
H. E.
Berlin 2007
translated by Michael Steffens
http://www.oakmusic.de/
