Along paths of František Hertl- CD Recording

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THE HERTL PROJECT- along paths of František Hertl

UPDATE!

We are happy to report that the CD Recording is done!

Here is a picture of happy team, after 4 days of recording at the Reitstadel, Neumarkt, 29/03/2024

from left: Gerd Finkenstein, Szymon Marciniak, Jongsuk Kim, Dirk Fischer

(Scroll down for more updates!)

CD- Recording project by Szymon Marciniak and Jongsuk Kim

in collaboration with Solaire Records

Introduction

The Hertl Project was started in early 2023 by two musicians based in Berlin, Germany: Polish double-bass soloist Szymon Marciniak and South-Korean pianist Jongsuk Kim. The project is dedicated to the Czech double-bassist and composer František Hertl (1906-1973)

Szymon Marciniak

Jongsuk Kim

Idea of the Hertl Project:

The Hertl Project was started in 2023 as a tribute to celebrate Hertl's 50th anniversary of death. Szymon Marciniak and Jongsuk Kim gave series of recitals throughout 2023 and early 2024, as a way of paying tribute to Hertl's anniversary as well as preparation for the main goal of the project: a CD recording (see more details below)- planned for the late March 2024.

Szymon Marciniak & Jongsuk Kim performing

About František Hertl

František Hertl (1906-1973) was one of important musical personalities in of the 20th Century's Czech Republic. His long and successful career spanned activities as a double-bass virtuoso, teacher, orchestral musician, composer, conductor and chamber musician (a.o. long time member and musical director of the Czech Nonet). His double-bass school and didactic work are still valid material used in today's education for double-bass players.

Furthermore Hertl left some wonderful musical legacy behind- his output included symphonic as well as chamber music. His major works for double-bass and piano are today the milestone chamber music for a modern double-bass soloist.

ALONG PATHS OF FRANTIŠEK HERTL- CD Recording

The Program, the concept and the connections:

The program chosen by Marciniak/Kim Duo includes two major works by František Hertl for double-bass and piano:

Sonata (1946/1956)

and

Four Pieces (1968) (Preludium, Burleska, Nokturno, Tarantella)

František Hertl- Sonata, autograph of piano part, probably from 1946

František Hertl- autograph of Sonata, double-bass part, final version finished in 1955

Hertl- Sonata, original Supraphon Edition, 1956

Hertl, 4 Pieces- original Supraphon Edition, 1969

While Hertl certainly is the main figure and the inspiration behind the project, the idea was to present his most important output for double-bass in a slightly broader perspective, by also including the music by two other composers František Černý (1961-1940) and Karel Reiner (1910-1979), both of whom had strong association with Hertl.

František Černý (1961-1940)

František Černý, was one of pupils of the Czech Double-Bass school with its origins in the early 19th Century. Active as performer, orchestral musician and composer, he also has been a long time professor for double-bass at the Prague Conservatory and so in the 1920's František Hertl became one of Černý's students.

Černý, author of a double-bass method and technical studies also composed collection of salon pieces for double-bass and piano. Two of them, "Danse des Satyres" and "Nocturne et Intermezzo", originally published in 1913 were chosen by the Marciniak/Kim Duo to be included in the CD-program.

František Černý, Danse des Satyres/Nocturne et Intermezzo, original edition, 1913

Karel Reiner (1910-1979)

Another major work added to the program is the Sonata for Double-Bass and Piano by Karel Reiner, Czech-Jewish composer, survival of concentration camps in Auschwitz and Dachau. In his later years he lived in Czechoslovakia as a pianist and freelance composer.

The Sonata for Double-Bass and Piano, composed in 1958, has been dedicated to "Professor František Hertl" and published in 1959. Its more modernistic character as well as more structured harmonic/melodic approach creates interesting contrast with Hertl's lyrical, purely late-romantic style.

Beginning of Sonata by Karel Reiner, original 1959 Panton Edition, dedication to František Hertl seen on the very top

The CD recording and collaboration with Solaire Records:

The CD recording including works by Hertl, Černý and Reiner, all mentioned above, is planned for the late March of 2024.
The recording will take place at the Reitstadel, a concert/recital hall, as well as cultural centre and important in-demand-venue for CD productions, located in Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, ca. 40 km south-east of Nuremberg, Germany.

Reitstadel, Neumarkt in der Oberfalz

The CD will be released in the late 2024 at Solaire Records, a label based in Potsdam/Berlin, Germany, run by recording producer Dirk Fischer

Dirk Fischer

Both release of physical CD as well as digital release are planned.

Visit Solaire Records website to find out more about their releases:

https://solairerecords.com

Dirk Fischer's personal website:

http://fischerdirk.com

CD Recording- special ideas, instruments, setup and their goal:

Besides paying tribute to one of important personalities among Czech double-bassists in the 20th Century, our goal behind making of this CD recording is also the one of capturing some musical flavours and spontaneity so characteristic of the performance in the early 20th Century.

To achieve these goals it was absolutely clear that we have to start with appropriate sound and instruments.

One of key features to get closer to the sound of that era for a string instrument is of course the use of gut-strings.

By connecting the sound ideal of the past with the reality of the present day, Gerold Genssler, Berlin-based string-making artist, created in 2023 a set of solo strings made of a unique innovative composition of sheep gut and natural fibers without metal wrapping, which offer the tonal quality and the original feel of plain gut strings. Szymon has a long association with Gerold Genssler and is especially proud to introduce these new strings with the Hertl Project CD Recording!

Gerold Genssler

Gerold Genssler's 2023 solo strings

Learn more about Gerold Genssler: https://sonores-strings.de

As for the piano, after examining some of the old pianos of early 20th Century era we again opted for connecting the sound ideal with the practical solution, by using a modern, chamber-music-size piano by Bösendorfer, provided by piano-maker Gerd Finkenstein/Klavierhaus Eltze. Its incredibly transparent sound brings out some intimate characteristics of an older instrument and wonderfully corresponds with the solo double-bass.

Learn more about Gerd Finkenstein: http://www.fluegelfink.de/index.html

Gerd Finkenstein

FUNDRAISING GOAL:

We have set the fundraising goal of 8.000 Euros on this page- which we would be really happy to reach with Your help!

It is only a part of the total 13.500 Euros expenses, which include the costs of recordings studio/hall rental, instrument rental/transport, individual transportation expenses, lodging etc, as well as costs of the recording, post-production and CD-pressing. All of fundraised budget here will be used to finance these expenses.

WE GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT!!

ACCORDING TO GOFUNDME POLICY, HEREBY WE TESTIFY THAT NO CONTESTS, GIVEAWAYS, OR PROMOTIONS WILL BE OFFERED IN EXCHANGE FOR DONATIONS TO THIS GOFUNDME FUNDRAISER

And here a little bit of documentation of what we have done so far: