Rothko Spaces Vol. 1 (for electric guitar & string orchestra), by Stephan Thelen with David Torn

Rothko Spaces Vol. 1 (for electric guitar & string orchestra)

by Stephan Thelen with David Torn

supported by

brecko Having visited the Rothko Chapel a couple of times, I sort of understand the atmospheric intention of these pieces. It might be interesting to visit again while listening to these sonic interpretations.

blox This is probably the most heavy ambient album, I´ve ever heard.
Heavenly haunting and crushingly blissful. So far, for me - best album of the year!

John Cratchley Enigmatic, unfathomable depth, tranquility…always spirituality…these are responses I often feel when I sit and contemplate Mark Rothko’s paintings…ritualistic in essence.
Stephan Thelen’s compositions and David Torn’s interpretations enhance those responses for me…

Platypus dear stephan (and david), what a wonderful and beautiful record is this. the musical 'landscapes' are very visual and moving. looking forward to the sequence and hopefully a vinyl version will also be available at some point in time :-). thanks and kind regards, eric jacobs, the netherlands

more...

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

9 CHF or more
2nd limited CD edition (100 copies) of Rothko Spaces Vol. 1
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
2nd limited CD edition (100 copies) of Rothko Spaces Vol. 1 in a 4 panel cardboard sleeve with transparent tray (1st edition of 100 copies sold out). Ships out around March 15th, 2024.

Includes unlimited streaming of Rothko Spaces Vol. 1 (for electric guitar & string orchestra) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Sold Out

1.	Agony 06:19	buy track
2.	Elegy 15:09	buy track
3.	Enigma 15:48	buy track
4.	Ambiguity 12:25	buy track

about

Rothko Spaces is a collection of compositions for electric guitar and string orchestra that are inspired by the work of American artist Mark Rothko (1903 - 1970), best known for his monolithic color field paintings that depict floating and rectangular regions of color. Although his paintings are abstract, Rothko was - in his own words - only interested in ‘expressing basic human emotions’ and he strongly felt that tragedy was the only theme noble enough for art. In fact, seeing his paintings can be a very emotional and immersive experience. Personally, I feel that his paintings always radiate an aura of mystery, infinity, timelessness, awe and bewilderment. If you see them - like Rothko recommended - in a darkened room, their magnetic glow can feel like a gateway, an oracle or a vessel of ancient wisdom.

What would a Rothko painting sound like if it were a piece of music? Rothko himself loved Mozart and often listened to one of his operas while painting, but Mozart’s music belongs to a totally different era. A few modern composers, notably Morton Feldman, have composed music that was directly influenced by Rothko’s artistic vision. In my imagination, I have somehow always associated two specific sounds with the monumental power of a Rothko painting: one is the sound of a large string orchestra, the other one a distorted electric guitar played at high volume with massive feedback through tube amplifiers, a sound that was first introduced to the world by Jimi Hendrix. If set up properly, even a simple chord can sound mesmerizing because of the rich palette of overtones produced by the distortion, tubes and feedback. It’s a very ‘physical’ sound, something that often gets lost in the way that guitarists nowadays mainly use digital plugins and amp modelers. For Rothko Spaces, I have combined these two sounds and composed music for string orchestra and an electric guitar played at high volume with feedback.

In November 2022, the Swiss band Sonar was recording their album Three Movements at Powerplay Studios in Switzerland and we invited American guitarist David Torn to fly to Zürich and to record some tracks. Being an expert on tube amplifiers, distortion and feedback, it was not difficult to persuade David not to play guitar in a conventional way, but to concentrate on the expressive use of massive blocks of sound. He was in high spirits and the two days we spent recording remain one of my most cherished musical memories.

Although David’s tracks were designed to be used on Three Movements, I always felt that they were able to stand well on their own or in an entirely different context. In December 2023, I started editing and sometimes looping them freely, orchestrating them with strings and also composing new string parts. Slowly, the four pieces on this album emerged.

Knowing many great guitarists, I soon had the idea to ask them to contribute their own feedback tracks. So, stay tuned for further volumes...

Thanks to David for his otherwordly playing, Reto Muggli for engineering at Powerplay and to Jon Durant for crucial advice.

Stephan Thelen, Zürich, February 16th, 2024.

credits

released February 16, 2024

Composed, edited and looped by Stephan Thelen, based on electric guitar performances by David Torn.

Guitar recorded at Powerplay Studio A in November 2022.
Engineer: Reto Muggli.

Produced by Stephan Thelen, January 2024.

license

about

Stephan Thelen Switzerland

Stephan Thelen is a composer, producer and mathematician based in Zürich, Switzerland. His activities are split into three main areas: 1) as composer, artistic director and guitarist of the Swiss minimal groove band SONAR, 2) as producer and guitarist for his Fractal Guitar and Fractal Sextet projects and 3) as composer of postminimal music ("Circular Lines", commisioned by the KRONOS QUARTET). ... more

stephanthelen.com

contact / help

Contact Stephan Thelen

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like Rothko Spaces Vol. 1 (for electric guitar & string orchestra), you may also like:

Three Movements
by Sonar with David Torn and J. Peter Schwalm

supported by 74 fans who also own “Rothko Spaces Vol. 1 (for electric guitar & string orchestra)”

Excellent album again from Sonar! More "ambiant" and "spatial" sounds. I really enjoy the accumulation of new sounds. The album feel fresh. Merci! Long live Sonar! ♥️ Jean-Maurice
go to album
Tranceportation Vol.1
by Sonar w. David Torn

supported by 67 fans who also own “Rothko Spaces Vol. 1 (for electric guitar & string orchestra)”

Continues to amaze and inspire. E. Burrill Turner
go to album
Tranceportation Vol.2
by Sonar w. David Torn

supported by 65 fans who also own “Rothko Spaces Vol. 1 (for electric guitar & string orchestra)”

At first listen, the juxtaposition of Sonar's rhythmic constructions and Torn's soaring, furious/tender voice would by themselves be enough of a pull. But digging beyond the surface will reward the listener greatly. There is great depth, emotional nuance, intrigue and change, rewarding repeated listening. Ref: Miles/80's Crim/Tibbetts, but this is truly new music. grate ape
go to album
86
by Junk Ranchers

Boston post-punk outfit Junk Ranchers broke up in 1986 before this, their debut album, was released; darkly melodic, it's a long-lost gem. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 22, 2020
go to album
Time is Glass
by Six Organs of Admittance

Recorded at home, Six Organs of Admittance's 21st album upholds Ben Chasny's reputation for experimental psych-folk excellence. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 25, 2024
go to album
The Power Of The Heart: A Tribute To Lou Reed
by Various Artists

Keith Richards, Rosanne Cash, Lucinda Williams, Joan Jett, and more pay tribute to the enduring and visionary music of Lou Reed. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 23, 2024
go to album
FUR/TORN
by David Torn

supported by 50 fans who also own “Rothko Spaces Vol. 1 (for electric guitar & string orchestra)”

Something of a meditative flow that feels more important than whatever he is playing at a given moment. Occasional monolithic phrases and delicate shaping of feedback sculpt time. errantzephyr
go to album