| ECM Records | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 1969 (1969) |
| Founder | Manfred Eicher |
| Distributor(s) | Universal Music |
| Genre | Jazz,classical,world |
| Country of origin | Germany |
| Location | Munich |
| Official website | www |
ECM (Edition of Contemporary Music) is an independentrecord label founded by Karl Egger,Manfred Eicher and Manfred Scheffner inMunich in 1969. While ECM is best known forjazz music, the label has released a variety of recordings, and ECM's artists often refuse to acknowledge boundaries between genres. ECM's motto is "the most beautiful sound next to silence", taken from a 1971 review of ECM releases inCoda, a Canadian jazz magazine.[1]
ECM has been distributed in the U.S. byWarner Bros. Records,PolyGram Records,BMG, and, since 1999,Universal Music, the successor of PolyGram, worldwide. Its album covers were profiled in two books:Sleeves of Desire andWindfall Light, both published by Lars Müller.
The first ECM release produced by Manfred Scheffner was pianistMal Waldron's 1969 recordingFree at Last. The label went on to release recordings by many prominent jazz musicians, includingPaul Bley,Keith Jarrett,Jan Garbarek,Pat Metheny,Gary Burton,Chick Corea,Charlie Haden,John Abercrombie,Dave Liebman,Eberhard Weber,Egberto Gismonti,Dave Holland,Terje Rypdal,Stefano Bollani andRalph Towner. The label has also released recordings in theworld music genre by artists includingSteve Tibbetts,Stephan Micus,Codona,Anouar Brahem,L. Shankar,Jon Hassell, andNaná Vasconcelos.
Manfred Eicher continues to take an active interest in the music released by ECM, acting asproducer of the vast majority of its recordings, although Steve Lake, Thomas Stoewsand, Robert Hurwitz, Lee Townsend, Hans Wendl and Sun Chung have also produced discs for the label. The typical ECM session is just three days: two days to record, one day tomix. Many of the albums have been recorded withJan Erik Kongshaug (of Talent Studios and later Rainbow Studios) in Oslo, Norway, as sound engineer; other engineers have included Martin Wieland (who recorded Jarrett's "The Köln Concert"), James Farber, Stefano Amerio and, on classical recordings, Peter Laenger.
TheECM New Series was created in 1984 to document Western classical works. It has released works by composers from the early (Thomas Tallis,Carlo Gesualdo,Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina) to the contemporary (John Cage,Elliott Carter,Steve Reich andJohn Adams). The series was initiated forArvo Pärt's record debutTabula Rasa, which Eicher recorded and produced in 1977, 1983, and 1984. Since then Pärt and Eicher have built a strong relationship: all works premiere on recordings for the label and all are done in presence of the composer. Keith Jarrett, better known as a jazz musician, contributed together withGidon Kremer amongst others toTabula Rasa. He later recorded several classical works byBach,Mozart,Shostakovich, and others for the series.
The three albumsMusic for 18 Musicians,Octet/Music for a Large Ensemble/Violin Phase, andTehillim by Reich were recorded before 1984 (all with the composer performing) and were later moved to the classical department together with some byMeredith Monk,Thomas Demenga andHarald Weiss.[2] Several of John Adams' works from his minimalist period have been released through the label as well, includingHarmonium andHarmonielehre.
Over the years, many other works by contemporary composers such asValentyn Sylvestrov,Tigran Mansurian,Erkki-Sven Tüür,Heinz Holliger,Giya Kancheli,György Kurtág, orHeiner Goebbels as well as the soundtracks of several works by the filmmakerJean-Luc Godard have been issued on theECM New Series label. Interpreters who released records in classical genres includeKim Kashkashian,András Schiff,Gidon Kremer, theHilliard Ensemble,Thomas Zehetmair,Carolin Widmann,Till Fellner, Herbert Henck,Alexei Lubimov,András Keller,Miklós Perényi,John Holloway,John Potter or most recentlyPatricia Kopatchinskaja.[3][4][5][6][7][8]
On many releases, the orientations towards jazz and classical music of ECM are combined: For example, Garbarek'sOfficium (1994) features him playing saxophone solos over theHilliard Ensemble singingGregorian chant, earlypolyphony andRenaissance works. Garbarek's work with guitarist Ralph Towner continued, and has been influenced by 20th century chamber music as much as by jazz-oriented material.John Potter, formerly of the Hilliard Ensemble, recorded works byJohn Dowland with jazz saxophonistJohn Surman and others, and Surman'sProverbs and Songs is a suite of choral settings ofOld Testament texts, recorded inSalisbury Cathedral. The label has also released unique works that fit into no obvious genre at all (like the records of composer Meredith Monk).
In 2002 and 2004, ECM released a series of compilation CDs titled:rarum. Twenty of the label's artists were asked to compile a single CD of their work. (Garbarek's and Jarrett's compilations are double CDs.) Artists who contributed to this series are Keith Jarrett, Jan Garbarek, Chick Corea, Gary Burton, Bill Frisell, Art Ensemble of Chicago, Terje Rypdal, Bobo Stenson, Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, Egberto Gismonti, Jack DeJohnette, John Surman, John Abercrombie, Carla Bley, Paul Motian, Tomasz Stańko, Eberhard Weber, Arild Andersen, Jon Christensen.
After working as a writer forMelody Maker magazine, Steve Lake first joined the ECM-staff in 1978.[9] While working predominantly for the writing department he now has also produced more than 40 records which are more in the experimental areas of jazz like ones ofEvan Parker,Roscoe Mitchell,Hal Russell,Robin Williamson,Joe Maneri orMat Maneri.[10] Furthermore, he published the bookHorizons Touched: The Music of ECM (2007) with music critic/novelistPaul Griffiths and made contributions to the booksSleeves of Desire: a Cover Story (1996),Windfall Light: The Visual Language of ECM (2010) andECM - A Cultural Archaeology (2012).[11]
On November 14, 2017, ECM announced in a press release that its entire catalog would be made available forstreaming on all major music streaming platforms (Apple Music, Amazon, Spotify, Deezer, Tidal and Qobuz). Previously, ECM recordings had never been available for streaming, save for a few select compilations of major performers. In a press release on its website, ECM explained its decision:
In recent years, ECM and the musicians have had to face unauthorized streaming of recordings via video sharing websites, plus piracy, bootlegs, and a proliferation of illegal download sites. It was important to make the catalogue accessible within a framework, where copyrights are respected.[12]
ECM further added that the physical recordings (CD & vinyl records) still constitute the "preferred mediums".[12]
In fall 2012, the Munich museumHaus der Kunst opened an exhibition about the work of the label calledECM – A Cultural Archaeology. It pointed out the early jazz-focused years until the mid-1980s, before theNew Series was initiated. In close relation with Eicher and ECM, the exhibition was created by art curatorOkwui Enwezor and Markus Müller. To complement the historically oriented content of the exhibition, it was accompanied with a concert series of current artists of the label, which includedFrançois Couturier,Enrico Rava,Meredith Monk,András Schiff,Evan Parker,Gidon Kremer orTomasz Stańko.[13] Some of these artists have a long relationship with the label—even if their 'home' isECM orNew Series.[14][15]
Additionally, Eicher curated a film series of eleven selected movies, which relate to the label. While some of its filmmakers have been related to ECM, likeTheo Angelopoulos orJean-Luc Godard, others gave inspiration to the label, likeIngmar Bergman orAndrei Tarkovsky, and others used music by ECM.[16] The physical catalogue of the exhibition was published byPrestel Verlag in German and English.[17] Another extended exhibition was displayed in Seoul, Korea, from September until November 2013. Under theGertrude Stein quoteThink of your Ears as Eyes, the exhibition took a wider view on the label's history than the one in Munich. Again, it was accompanied by a concert series, includingKim Kashkashian, András Schiff,Myung-whun Chung,Heinz Holliger,Norma Winstone,Ralph Towner andYeahwon Shin.[18]
The label has a special relation towards film and directors.[19] FounderManfred Eicher himself is a very passionate movie viewer and directed in 1990 an adaption ofMax Frisch'sHolozän together withHeinz Bütler.[20][21] The label has also released some soundtracks e.g. forThe Return (2003) byAndrey Zvyagintsev orNouvelle Vague (ECM NewSeries 1600-01) andHistoire(s) du cinéma (ECM NewSeries 1706) by French-Swiss directorJean-Luc Godard. This collaboration expanded over the years and led on the one hand into the contribution of several stills from Godard's movies for covers likeMorimur (ECM NewSeries 1765) byChristoph Poppen,Asturiana - Songs from Spain and Argentinia (ECM NewSeries 1975) byKim Kashkashian or the 2011Live at Birdland (ECM 2162) byLee Konitz/Brad Mehldau/Charlie Haden/Paul Motian.[22] On the other hand, Eicher took over the musical direction of many of Godard's films likeGermany Year 90 Nine Zero,Hélas pour moi,JLG orFor Ever Mozart. Besides these Eicher was also the head behind the music ofXavier Koller'sReise der Hoffnung,Sandra Nettelbeck'sMostly Martha and the Oscar-nominated documentaryWar Photographer byChristian Frei.[21] Additionally Godard has released a collection of short films on the label withAnne-Marie Miéville calledFour Short Films (ECM 5001).[23]
Apart from her own work Greek composerEleni Karaindrou wrote scores for stage and for movies, which includeUlysses' Gaze (1995),Eternity and a Day (1998) andThe Dust of Time (1999), among others by filmmakerTheo Angelopoulos released on ECM.[24] The Swiss actorBruno Ganz, who has also worked with Angelopoulos, has recorded two spoken word-albums for the label: one in 1984 with poems byFriedrich Hölderlin (ECM New Series 1285) and one in 1999 calledWenn Wasser Wäre (ECM New Series 1723) with works ofT. S. Eliot andGiorgos Seferis. Another nameable release is the recordScardanelli (ECM 1761) with texts and music fromHarald Bergmann's film of the same name from 2000, which reflects the work of Hölderlin in his last years. In the title role, it features Austrian actorWalter Schmidinger who's reading the poems and texts on this record taken from the movie.[25] In fall 2012, ECM released a record calledTurmgedichte (ECM New Series 2285) by actor/voice actor/vocalistChristian Reiner also with poems by Hölderlin.[26]
Furthermore, ECM has many projects and albums dedicated to people involved with motion pictures. For example, Italian piano playerStefano Battaglia pays tribute to the work of directorPier Paolo Pasolini on his 2007Re: Pasolini (ECM 1998-99). Its cover pictures a still from Pasolini's 1964The Gospel According to St. Matthew.[27] In 2022 a recording of texts by the Italian film maker calledPier Paolo Pasolini: Land der Arbeit (ECM 2768) spoken in German by Reiner was released.[28] Polish jazz trumpeterTomasz Stańko recorded in 1994Matka Joanna (ECM 1544) as an homage to Polish film directorJerzy Kawalerowicz's movieMatka Joanna od Aniołów (1961). Three years later on his 1997Litania: Music of Krzysztof Komeda (ECM 1636) Stańko honors the work of another countryman and film composerKrzysztof Komeda who is widely known for the scores of several films byRoman Polanski but was also a jazz pianist. Polanski also contributed a preface for the booklet ofLitania. The albumDans la Nuit (ECM 1805) by French woodwind playerLouis Sclavis, who also was active as a film composer, is a new score forCharles Vanel's 1930 silent movieDans la nuit (film).[29]
The French pianistFrançois Couturier dedicated a couple of his works to the Soviet/Russian directorAndrei Tarkovsky.[27] This includes pieces on his 2010 solo recordUn jour si blanc (ECM 2103) and the albumsNostalghia - Song for Tarkovsky (ECM 1979) from 2006 as well as theTarkovsky Quartet (ECM 2159) from 2011 - both with photographs and movie stills of Tarkovsky in the booklet.[30] Other examples of works dedicated to the director areArbos (ECM NewSeries 1325) by Estonian composerArvo Pärt, the pieceEight Hymns in memoriam Andrei Tarkovsky by composerStevan Kovacs Tickmayer which can be found onGidon Kremer's 2010Hymns and Prayers (ECM NewSeries 2161) or3rd Piece by Jan Garbarek on his solo recordAll Those Born with Wings (ECM 1324).[31] In Spring 2013 ECM released the recordLa notte byKetil Bjørnstad which took its inspiration from Italian filmmakerMichelangelo Antonioni; its title and cover were taken from the 1961movie of the same name.[32] Later that year analbum byJohn Abercrombie was released with four allusions towardsHitchcock movies including the name of the title track taken from39 Steps.[33] On her 2018 albumDescansado: Songs for Films (ECM 2567) English singerNorma Winstone pays tribute to composers likeNino Rota,Michel Legrand,William Walton,Bernard Herrmann, andEnnio Morricone - all strongly connected to movies - by rearranging their pieces.[34]
The connection with motion pictures spans further and is reflected in the design of the booklet ofMnemosyne (ECM NewSeries 1700) byJan Garbarek and theHilliard Ensemble—the successor of its highly successful albumOfficium (ECM 1525). It includes stills fromThe Seventh Seal (1957) by Swedish directorIngmar Bergman.[35]
In 1986, director Jan Horne shot the 60-minute documentaryBare Stillheten about Eicher and the label in Munich, Oslo, and Tokyo for television with Garbarek,Terje Rypdal,Jon Christensen,Arild Andersen,John Surman,Eberhard Weber, and others participating.[36] There is also a documentary by Peter Guyer and Norbert Wiedmer calledSounds and Silence (2010) which portraits exemplary the daily work ofManfred Eicher with various musicians including Arvo Pärt,Nik Bärtsch,Anouar Brahem,Dino Saluzzi andAnja Lechner, Jan Garbarek andKim Kashkashian orGianluigi Trovesi andGianni Coscia. The soundtrack with tracks from the recording sessions seen in the movie was as well as the documentary also released on ECM calledMusic for the Film - Sounds and Silence (ECM 2250).[37] A documentary about reed playerCharles Lloyd calledArrows Into Infinity (ECM 5052), directed by his wife Dorothy Darr together with Jeffery Morse, was released in July 2014.[38] Another project from 2014 shows moving images byPrashant Bhargava with music byVijay Iyer calledRadhe Radhe: Rites of Holi (ECM 5507).[39] In 2018 followed a portrait about Abercrombie calledOpen Land: Meeting John Abercrombie (ECM 5053), filmed byArno Oehri andOliver Primus.[40]Besides these movies, ECM has also released concert videos of Karaindrou, Marc Sinan,Keith Jarrett solo and with hisStandards trio.[41]
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