Carolina Eyck Fantasias For Theremin And String Quartet

World-renowned theremin virtuosa Carolina Eyck and American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME) come together for the first time on Fantasias for Theremin and String Quartet. Eyck composed these six Fantasias specifically for the 12” vinyl LP format, a practice reminiscent of early-60s Nonesuch releases. All performances were recorded in full takes with no editing. The result is an organic virtuosity that leads the listener through a wide range of sonic environments across the six pieces. Eyck’s compositions range from slow-evolving arpeggiations reminiscent of Reich and Glass (see “Oakuunar Lynntuja” and “Dappa Solarjos”), to alternative bowing and fingering techniques that achieve an ethereal ambience (see “Leyhomi”), to athletic explorations reminiscent of Bartók’s String Quartets (see “Dappa Solarjos”). The titles were devised by Eyck and producer/label-head Allen Farmelo by scanning multiple Scandinavian languages for pleasing lingual combinations. Eyck’s striking theremin performances showcase her dead-aim intonation, her command of microtonality, her fluid melodicism, and her utter lack of self-consciousness as an improvisor. The vinyl LP is in a full color gatefold package and pressed on translucent green vinyl, with an essay by producer and label-head Allen Farmelo in the gatefold. The CD is a 6-panel digipack with the essay printed on heavy-weight stock in a detached 8-page booklet.