played by iO string quartet from new yourk in live concert in Great Britain


IANCU DUMITRESCU ( born 1944 ) is one of the leading personalities of Romanian music, embracing both composition, interpretation and musical criticism. In 1976 he founded the chamber music ensemble Hyperion, gathering together a number of extraordinary players dedicated to the new aesthetic of the Romanian avangarde. Dumitrescu studied with Sergiu Celibidache, and his compositions are based both on phenomenology and acousmatics, in wich sound is subject to analysis and dissociation, processes which confer a genuine force of suggestion and penetration. His major works include Alternations quartet, Movemur et Sumus I-V strings, Medium I-V, violincello and double bass, Perspectives au Movemur string quartet, Au delà de Movemur string orchestra, Apogeum, Aulodie Mioritica, Reliefs,Basoreliefs, Cinq Implosions, orchestra and soloists; Ursa Major, Cogito / Trompe lOeil, Mythos, A Priori ( acousmatic musics ) Zenithpercussion, Harryphopnies, Astrée Lointaine, saxophone and orchestra.
He has been commissioned by, among others, Radio France, the Kronos Quartet.

Book Press :
*... The music of Iancu DUMITRESCU explores the ultimate sense of sound guiding the listener through new spheres of sonic adventure, a kind of cryptical music. Based on the idea of acousmatique a socratic term meaning the intimate exploratioon of sonic phenomenon, his music takes its formal models from the very structure of sound, with a perfect relationship between micro - and macro-structure, this phenomenological approach to the act of composing implies at the same time a very good confidence in the intuitive dimention of discovery. The young generation of romanian composers headed by Iancu Dumitrescu ave a unique position through their development of the spectral sound music, using almost only acousmatical instruments. Dumitrescu and his colleague Horatio Radulescu have awaked new attention to this until now almost unknown Romanian music. Similar tendences are to be found in the music of the Italan composers - Giacinto Scelsi, Mario Bertoncini and the late Francesco Evangelisti ( Gruppo di Improvizazione Nuova Consonanza), also in the music of the late Greec composer, Jani Christou...
Robert ZANK Edition RZ, 1988, Berlin


* IANCU DUMITRESCU. In the realms of the avant-garde ( red: serious, weird and innovative clasical music ) the countries of Eastern Europe have been notorious as burgeoners of the most experimental and creative talents. Probably best known of all is György Ligeti, along with innumerable other Hungarian and Czechoslovakian talents in the realms of electronic music.
The composer under discussion here however, hails from Romania and is the creator of some of the most radical and inventive music.
Born in 1944, its obvious that the political and social climate in Romania had profound influence on his perception of music, and later after studies with one Sergiu Celibidache, he began to experiment with aesthetics of sound creation, manipulation, and harmonic mutilation. In 1976 he formed the HYPERION ENSEMBLEto realise his works, and also those of other composers like N.B. These early orchestrated works are quite reminiscent of Ligetis similar dissonant ensemble pieces, often sounding as electronic as orchestral. Intriguing , but only hinting at the radical work to come.
A major step forward in his realisation of truly bombastic sonic disintegration was realised by the co-operation of the experimental bassist Fernando Grillo ( also known for an album on the Cramps label ), who seems capable of coaxing the most impossible sounds out of his instrument. The work Cogito / Trompe lOeil is an excellent example of this in a more atmospheric Stockhausen - like manner, whereas MEDIUM III features same of the most awesome brain-numbing sonic effects Ive heard. Many of the works from this era came to light via releases on the German Edition RZ label , revealing to the world a sonic creator of unique talent.
As a creator of radical music that breaks convention, riding on the edge of the classical avant-garde onto realms more closely asso-ciated with the likes of Nurse With Wound or The Halfer Trio, IANCU DUMITRESCU has the talent to lure you in, mystify and startle with unnerving furiousity...
Alan FREEMAN AUDION , Leicester March 1993