Axel Borup-Jorgensen was a meticulous modernist who followed his own distinctive path. His works exude intense nature mysticism, at one moment tracing the skeletal outlines of barren trees, and blinding sunbursts, or a storm at sea in the next.
The five works presented here – including three world premiere recordings – span the most important period of the composer’s artistic development, from Music for percussion + viola op.18 of 1956 to his cathartic Periphrasis op.156, (first version, 1977) and all feature the full array of percussion instruments found in 20th century music skin, metal and wood, everything from small bells to a gong one metre in diameter are employed, to bring Borup-Jorgensen’s exquisitely crafted universe of sounds to life.
