The Third Eye

I don’t think The Third Eye has ever covered a group of classical musicians, but there’s a first time for everything. I’ve listened to a good bit of classical music over the years, and I’ve always loved experimental post-classical music. That’s why I was excited to discover the Copenhagen, Denmark-based Halvcirkel, which is not your typical string quartet. 

The group is a progressive string quartet that creates sometimes gentle yet expressive music that draws on new classical, minimalism, and improvisation. To achieve greater authenticity, they aim to free themselves from the rules and ideals of most classical music.

Halvcirkel will release a new album called Vida on June 14th. One of the singles available thus far is a seven-plus-minute track called “Ridge.” The album title comes from a small Swedish village and the location of one of the members’ summerhouses. Vida will also be the first record for the group to focus on the trio’s own compositions. Each piece pays tribute and homage to their influences, collaborators, and journey.

Many of those influences are the giants of modern classical and post-classical music and the minimalism movement, including Brian Eno, Craig Leon, Carl Nielsen, Arvo Part, and Caroline Shaw. The new record also pays respects to their mentor, the pioneering minimalist Terry Riley.

I’ve been reading about and listening to minimalist composers like Terry Riley more. Their experimental work has many psychedelic aspects. Halvcirkel has covered Riley’s work on several occasions, and in 2020, they visited him at his California mountain ranch. Halvcirkel says this trip inspired the single “Ridge.” The song is a ceremony of drones that marches to a slow ritual rhythm, much like some of Riley’s best compositions. “Ridge” also salutes another Halvcirkel collaborator, Craig Leon.

Listen to “Ridge” below:

Halvcirkel was formed in 2015 and comprises three core musicians: violinist Mika Persdotter, violinist Bettina Marie Ezaki, and cellist Nicole Hogstrand. They say their music is characterized by “being human” over perfection. An essential part of their compositions is how their instruments weave and “braid.”

Halvcirkel’s music is heady stuff, and their catalog has included self-released interpretations of many experimental classical giants, such as Philip Glass. They also worked on a project that reinterpreted the ancient Greek poet Sappho’s Fragment 94. As I said, they shoot for the stars.

“Ridge” is a fascinating track, and I’ve been delving more into the rest of the trio’s work lately. This “Classical X” music pushes the boundaries of what you’d expect from a string quartet composition. 

The trio creates a slow burn of droning sounds on “Ridge” that holds dramatic tension while still creating a relaxing listening experience. Fans of minimalism legends like Philip Glass and Terry Riley should love the new song, as should fans of experimental classical groups like Kronos Quartet. If you like “Ridge,” check out the rest of Halvcirkel’s music, including their 2021 live LP, Learning To Breathe Free. Enjoy!

Pre-order Vida by Halvcirkel on Bandcamp here.

You can support Halvcirkel by finding them on Bandcamp, their official website, or social media (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram).

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