Vom Himmel hoch, da kommt ein Engel her zu Dir … und fliegt gen Himmel wieder

"Fabio Nieder and Artyom Kim were the real discoveries for me this concert [5 May 2011 in Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ, Amsterdam]. The contrast between them couldn't be bigger, but both proved themselves as great original composers. Fabio Nieder (Triëst, 1957) presented two pieces, both very silent, calming, light as a feather. In his “Vom Himmel hoch...” an angel nears the earth, touches it, and flies up to heaven again. The work reminded me a little of Richard Rijnvos' “Ponte de la Pietà“ that had its première in the NTR ZaterdagMatinee of March 5, 2011, although the movement there is just the other way round: going up (the bridge) and going down again. Nieder's work is much lighter, as light as an angel must be; even a sound is too heavy. The angel disappears slowly in the beautiful nothingness - and we almost want to follow it, so tempting Nieder makes the journey sound. His music makes us reach upwards, as all great music does.
With Indian sarangi player Dhruba Ghosh after the break he played a short improvisation (Nieder himself on piano). Two wise older men meditating about the depth, the sadness, but also the lightness of life, that's how it sounded."

allesoverkunst.blogspot.com     6 May 2011