Fear of a Blank Planet

Artist Guide » Classical » Traditional » NIETZSCHE MUSIC PROJECT, INC.: The Music of Friedrich Nietzsche

[2 CD set with CD-Rom, and 32 page informative booklet in English and German: music for solo piano, voice and piano, piano duo, violin and piano: David Blackburn, tenor; Christian Hebel, violin; Manolis Papasifakis and Thomas Coote, pno: Stephen Blauweiss, booklet, CD-Rom design and videography: Joe Patrych, engineer: ]

Who would have guessed that one of the most controversial figures of the western philosophical tradition, the 19th century German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), also wrote music?

Until 1990, Nietzsche's activity as a gifted, though largely untutored composer, remained an unknown quantity to all save a few erudite scholars. It was at that time that the Nietzsche Music Project, an interdisciplinary enterprise devoted to exploring the links between music and literature, surfaced in New York. The NMP produced two discs devoted to Nietzsche's compositions which were released in 1991 and '92 on the Newport Classic label. These recordings earned widespread critical acclaim in the mainstream media and plaudits from the general public.

This current 2-CD set is NMP's second survey of this unique repertoire. Like his writing, Nietzsche's music is exceptional in every way. Given the above-average quality of a good number of the pieces, we believe that, as with all good music, these works deserve a second look. Certainly, his best compositions are substantial enough to invite multiple perspectives. Aside from their purely musical qualities, they provide fascinating insights into the creative personality of a young man who would eventually develop into the author of some of the most moving and provocative philosophical writings ever written.

The set includes an illustrated 32 page booklet with background essays in English and German, song translations in English, and a CD-Rom with clips from the NMP's upcoming documentary film, Zarathustra's Drunken Song, narrated by the distinguished actor, Fritz Weaver, with German narration by Klaus Werner. Additional essays on the subject of Nietzsche and music in both English and German are also included.

For more information about The NMP and its projects, visit our site at www.nmp-online.org

Check out the artist's website:
http://www.nmp-online.org

Track List:
1. CD #1 Da geht ein Bach (piano version)
2. Aus der Jugendzeit
3. Mein Platz vor der TÃ¼r
4. Das Kind an die erloschener
5. Da geht ein Bach (Vocal arrangement)
6. StÃ¤ndchen
7. Es winkt und neigt sich
8. Unendlich
9. Gern und Gerner
10. Das Zerbrochene Ringlein
11. Ungewitter
12. Junge Fischerin
13. Verwelkt
14. BeschwÃ¶rung
15. Monodie Ã Deux
16. Kirchengeschichtliches Responsorium
17. Wie sich Rebenranken schwingen
18. Nachspiel
19. Gebet an das Leben
20. CD #2 Eine Sylvesternacht
21. Nachklang einer Sylvesternacht
22. Manfred-Meditation
23. Das Fragment an sich

Suggested CDs:

Other Genres:

CLASSICAL: Traditional
MOOD: INTELLECTUAL