Tiergarten
Featured on Immensity Of
In Tiergarten (Zoo), Aylward reimagines three of Rilke’s animal poems- the swan, the panther, and the unicorn- by letting their imagery guide the music rather than imposing interpretation. Each piece highlights a distinct tension: the swan’s awkward tread versus its regal glide, expressed through soaring vocal lines over a hidden bass moto perpetuo; the panther’s estrangement from its nature, conveyed in a close, frictional dance between voice and strings; and the unicorn’s elusive presence, where furtive bass gestures and, soprano, Nina Guo’s luminous clarity combine to create layered ambiguity and depth.
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Tiergarten
05.)
I. Der Schwan 4:2806.)
II. Der Panther 2:3207.)
III. Das Einhorn 4:51 -
Recorded August 2021 at Gordan Hall, MA
Joel Gordon, recording engineer
Mixed and Mastered by Joel Gordon and Departure Duo
Cover Image: Untitled from series Parallel by Anne-Sophie Coiffet
Photo by Kate Nottage
Design & Layout: Marc Wolf, marcjwolf.com
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Departure Duo
Nina Guo, voice
Edward Kass, double bass
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Soprano Nina Guo and bassist Edward Kass, performing as Departure Duo, bring formidable new‑music credentials to a program that expands the repertoire for their rare and expressive pairing.
John Aylward’s Tiergarten (Zoo) draws on Rilke’s animal poems, contrasting the swan’s awkward tread with its regal glide, embodying the panther’s alienation in tense musical friction, and giving the unicorn elusive ambiguity through furtive bass lines and luminous soprano clarity.
