Youthful and mature works are presented on this 2011 album of compositions by Turkish composer
Kamran Ince, but the common trait running through them is his audaciousness, a hallmark of his style. The Piano Concerto (1984) and Infrared Only (1985) are notable for their directness and brashness, and even though
Ince's handling of the music is episodic and sectional, with abrupt interruptions of highly contrasting material, the dazzling orchestration and ferocity of attacks sustain interest and override the segmented structures. The Symphony No. 2, "Fall of Constantinople," is more consistent in mood and overtly unified and symphonic in concept (yet designed almost as a sectional tone poem rather than a conventional symphony), but the dark, warlike music that permeates the work is startling in its force and savagery. Perhaps most surprising and daring is
Ince's Concerto for orchestra, Turkish instruments, and voices (2002, revised 2009), which fairly explodes off the CD from its percussive beginning. In this work,
Ince demonstrates his ease with blending unusual and conventional tone colors, including folk instruments and a chorus, and produces an exciting concerto that is as original as it is unexpected.
Ince leads the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra in all the performances but one, where he performs as soloist in the Piano Concerto, which is conducted by Isin Metin. The extraordinary timbres that
Ince calls for are vividly created by the musicians, and the clear and resonant audio of the recording makes them sound distinct and fully present.