Korf ar son

Korf ar son

Korf ar son's releases combine intricate visual art, floating piano notes, imperfect sounds, and most importantly, utter silence. 

The latest release of Korf ar son is a multidisciplinary masterwork in four parts. The duo has produced some of the most mindful artworks this generation has heard and seen. That being said, their work is meant for a specific niche community in contemporary classical music, and is not for the general audience.

Korf ar son, Breton for "body of sound", is comprised of composer, Nebel lang (Pablo), and visual artist, Sylvain Levier. Together, Nebel lang and Levier have exponentially expanded upon the definition of contemporary graphic scores and artistic collaboration. While some could say they are stuck in the time of high modernism, each work has evolved from the simple concept of a graphic score into a full piece of collaborative art. Each of the four artworks, Wilhelm Schimmel 40445, Wilh. Hauschildt, F. Rösener Berlin 25194, and Euterpe 88120, are brought to life by Nebel lang on selected old pianos, each tuned specifically for the work. The subtle intonation differences transport each work into its own sphere of aural awareness. It is an interesting and different approach to microtonality than most contemporary forms, as the music is developed by the tuning system without demanding that the listener acknowledge it.

In turn, Levier's images are just as inspired by the music. These 'graphic transcriptions' of the pieces enable the listener to fully delve into the established sound world and view the musical work in both its original temporal context and from the loftiness of metaphorical omnipresence. The music takes on a new form when paired with the print, and vice versa. 

Korf ar son's releases combine intricate visual art, floating piano notes, imperfect sounds, and most importantly, utter silence. Somehow, by the end of each work, the lack of sound sounds more musical than any possible chord. Whether or not one enjoys what Korf ar son has created, there is no doubt that the output is impressive and emotional.


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© 2022 Brutal New Music Reviews
originally written and published 25 July 2022

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