A myth brought to life
The story is old. Very old. We know it from Homer's Iliad. Troy. The horse. The war. And its consequences. We hear how it all sounds in Fazıl Say's Troy Sonata. In this piece, we hear that the story of the Trojan War, aside from all its cruelty, is also a story of faith, hope, and love. Even if one would not expect it, there is utopian potential in it, a touch of metaphysical sensuality. This is made possible by the dialectic of life and death, which is reflected in Say's sonata. Even at first listen, one becomes aware of the antagonisms that clash in this musical decalogue. The composer was primarily inspired by Homer's epics, but also drew on other literary sources to translate the “phenomenon” of Troy into poetically impressive soundscapes – so vivid that one can even see, or at least sense, some of the heroes: there is Paris, the young man accused of abducting the beautiful Helen. Then there is Menelaus, the cuckolded husband, Agamemnon, the war strategist, Achilles, the (seemingly) invincible, and Hector, the (slaughtered) butcher. Even the poet himself steps forward in the very first sentence bearing his name and raises his voice. In addition to the familiar mythical figures, who find their musical counterparts in vividly formulated themes or (leit)motifs, other protagonists enter the imaginary stage. We see Tyche, and occasionally the sun peeks through the notes. Only the gods are missing. The music creates them the moment they are heard. And although this overwhelming work is absolute music, it is ultimately human beings who, accompanied by the composer, seek their way through the Trojan thicket – and also a tiny piece of happiness. […]
Beauty will save the world
Fazıl Say wrote the first of the 3 Ballads, an introverted, cantabile piece, as a tribute to the poet Nazim Hikmet. The second ballad, Kumru (Dove), is a gently flowing andante. The third ballad is also of incomparable tenderness and beauty – no wonder, since its title Sevenlere dair means “For the lovers” in English. A mild-sounding andante is followed by a passionate allegro, kept in pianissimo. The second andante section sounds like a memory of the most beautiful hours, ending with the lovers floating away into the air.
From Ariel's arms, the path leads directly to the totality of being. Black Earth is Fazıl Say's best-known piano piece, based on the song Kara Toprak by the blind folk poet Aşik Veysel, which is popular in Turkey and in which the poet laments the loss of life. The three-part ballad uses microtones as well as modal turns, jazz particles, and prepared keys that imitate the sound of the traditional saz lute. Listening to this music, one inevitably thinks of Rilke's poem Der Panther, of the loneliness expressed in these words, which is nevertheless magical.
Jürgen Otten