My first impression of Toivo Tulev, established nearly a decade ago during my first few sojourns to Estonia, was of a composer whose language was one of polarised extremes. The more i’ve got to know his music over the years, the more that first impression has been confirmed: Tulev’s is…

5:4

25.06.2025

World New Music Days 2025, Portugal (Part 2) - 5:4

The World New Music Days features a wide variety of instrumental combinations, but the majority of music featured at this year’s festival were chamber works. Some of these fell within a trio of “extraordinário” concerts, each focused on a solo instrument, clarinet, cello and saxophone. The clarinet recital, which featured…

5:4

28.06.2025

Formuls - Disorder as a function of time (from Graz to Holycross); Obsession as a function of time (inertia) - 5:4

It’s always good to hear new music from Birmingham composer James Dooley, aka Formuls. He’s recently put out two releases that are essentially siblings. It’s been a while (too long) since i last wrote about Dooley’s work, but on that occasion i was exploring music that sat in various levels…

5:4

03.07.2025

Know thyself: Turangalîla and me - 5:4

Self-knowledge is an ongoing, never-ending thing, isn’t it? The other evening i was streaming a performance of Messiaen’s Turangalîla-Symphonie on the Berlin Philharmonic Digital Concert Hall, and became increasingly aware of the extent to which this particular piece not only shaped me as a musician, but also revealed aspects of…

home›5:4

5:4

Music

Toivo Tulev - Dawn, Almost Dawn - 5:4

World New Music Days 2025, Portugal (Part 2) - 5:4

Formuls - Disorder as a function of time (from Graz to Holycross); Obsession as a function of time (inertia) - 5:4

Know thyself: Turangalîla and me - 5:4

home
›
5:4