Geschenk des Augenblicks - Gift of the Moment
Encyclopedia
Geschenk des Augenblicks - Gift of the Moment is the eleventh solo album by German keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius, best known for his work with Cluster
, Harmonia
, and Aquarello
.
music which is central to this album was recorded in Roedelius' home studio. Further instrumentation, transfer to multitrack
and first mixing
took place in late February, 1983 at Lux Mundi studio in Rotterdam
, the Netherlands
. The pieces were completed at Roedelius' home with the Erpel Portable Studio the following May. The album was finished in October, 1983 at The Hit Box Studio, Vienna
, Austria
. It was released by Editions EG
in 1984 and first reissued on by Editions EG on CD in 1991. It has subsequently been reissued jointly by E.G.Records and Virgin Records
in 1997 and was reissued again on both CD and 180 gram vinyl LP by the Bureau B label on January 17, 2011. It is Roedelius' best selling solo album to date.
All the music of Geschenk des Augenblicks - Gift of the Moment was composed or co-composed by Roedelius. "Adieu Quichotte", "Troubador", "Gefundene Zeit (Time Regained) " and "Das Sanfte (Mellowness)" were co-composed by Arjen Uittenbogaard, who plays cello
on the album. "Wurzeln Des Glücks (Roots Of Joy)" was co-composed by violinist Tjitse Letterie.
The review on the Piccadilly Records website talks about Roedelius' move away from electronic music on this album:
Cluster (band)
Cluster is a German experimental musical group who influenced the development of contemporary popular electronic and ambient music. They have recorded albums in a wide variety of styles ranging from experimental music to progressive rock, all of which had an avant-garde edge. Cluster has been...
, Harmonia
Harmonia (band)
Harmonia is a Krautrock supergroup from Germany. They formed as a collaboration between Michael Rother of Neu! and Hans-Joachim Roedelius and Dieter Möbius of Cluster and later included the British musician Brian Eno.-Musical style:...
, and Aquarello
Aquarello
Aquarello was a musical group which blended ambient music and jazz. The trio included keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius, based in Austria, and two Italian musicians, multi-instrumentalist Fabio Capanni, and saxophonist Nicola Alesini...
.
Recording and Release
The pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
music which is central to this album was recorded in Roedelius' home studio. Further instrumentation, transfer to multitrack
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
and first mixing
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
took place in late February, 1983 at Lux Mundi studio in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The pieces were completed at Roedelius' home with the Erpel Portable Studio the following May. The album was finished in October, 1983 at The Hit Box Studio, Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. It was released by Editions EG
E.G. Records
E.G. Records was a UK-based artist management company and independent record label, mostly active during the 1970s and 1980s. The initials stand for its founders, David Enthoven and John Gaydon. The pair signed on as managers of King Crimson in early 1969, during the formative stage of the band and...
in 1984 and first reissued on by Editions EG on CD in 1991. It has subsequently been reissued jointly by E.G.Records and Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
in 1997 and was reissued again on both CD and 180 gram vinyl LP by the Bureau B label on January 17, 2011. It is Roedelius' best selling solo album to date.
All the music of Geschenk des Augenblicks - Gift of the Moment was composed or co-composed by Roedelius. "Adieu Quichotte", "Troubador", "Gefundene Zeit (Time Regained) " and "Das Sanfte (Mellowness)" were co-composed by Arjen Uittenbogaard, who plays cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
on the album. "Wurzeln Des Glücks (Roots Of Joy)" was co-composed by violinist Tjitse Letterie.
Music
Roedelius biographer Stephen Iliffe described the music of Geschenk des Augenblicks - Gift of the Moment and the effect of the move to Editions EG in his book Painting with Sound: The life and music of Hans-Joachim Roedelius:His music has grown a bit too sweet (read New AgeNew Age musicNew Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
!)" complained Dag Erik Asbjornsen. But EG Records gives him a wider audience of folk unaware of the Cluster legend, not to mention an independent chart placing between Nick CaveNick CaveNicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
and The SmithsThe SmithsThe Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
.
The review on the Piccadilly Records website talks about Roedelius' move away from electronic music on this album:
If LustwandelLustwandelLustwandel is the sixth solo album by German keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius, best known for his work with Cluster, Harmonia, and Aquarello. All the pieces on the album were composed by Roedelius with the sole exception of "Wilkommen", which was composed by Roedelius and Will Roper...
and Jardin au FouJardin Au FouJardin Au Fou is the second solo album by German keyboardist Hans-Joachim Roedelius, best known for his work with Cluster. The title is French for "Garden of Madness"....
had seen the process set in motion, this was the album that completed the transition. [...] Roedelius focused on the grand piano, sometimes accompanied by a cello, violin and guitar. Distant echoes of a not so distant musical past could only be detected in the occasional appearance of sparse chords played on a polyphonic synthesizer. The album wore a veil of delicate melancholy: no vibrant folk dances, no colourful carousels, no cheerful melodies.
Track listing
- "Geschenk des Augenblicks (Gift of the Moment)" - 4:19
- "Adieu Quichotte" - 5:46
- "Troubadour" - 5:16
- "Kleine Blume Irgendwo (Little Flower Somewhere)" - 2:13
- "Ohn' Unterlaß (Continuously)" - 3:50
- "Gefundene Zeit (Time Regained)" - 2:00
- "Sehnsucht ich will dich Lassen (To be free of Yearning)" - 5:48
- "Das Sanfte (Mellowness)" - 3:43
- "Tag für Tag (Day by Day)" - 4:30
- "Zu Füßen der Berge am Ufer des Sees (At the foot of the mountain by the lakeside)" - 6:35
- "Wurzeln des Glücks (Roots of Joy)" - 3:25
Personnel
- Hans-Joachim Roedelius - Grand piano, acoustic and electric guitars, electric bass, accordion, electronic sounds with CP 33 vocoder and Korg Poly 61 synthesizer, producer, cover
- Arjen Uittenbogaard - Cello
- Tjitse Letterie - Violin
- Coen De Neef - Recording engineer (Lux Mondi studio)
- Eric Spitzer-Marlyn - Recording engineer (The Hit Box Studio)