cormac heron

Eislermaterial

Heiner Goebbels claims that had Eisler not existed he probably would not have taken the decision to make music professionally. Such a statement might seem overly sentimental but look back into Goebbels career and one can see a very definite line taken by Goebels that leads to this compelling piece of work.

As a student in the early seventies Goebbels studied Eisler intensively and then did some improvisations based on the composer's "songs". The developments of these improvisations can be heard on Eislermaterial.

After being "thrown into the trenches" in 1916 Eisler took a great interest in politics and as a result started to write songs which were effective yet avoiding sentimentality. This brought him to the poetry of Brecht which he used as a lyrical basis for his compositions. These are the main feature of this recording brought beautifully to life by Josef Bierbichler.

With Goebbels' arrangements and Bierbichler's vocals these songs eerily appear through an air of magical nostalgia. These simple songs with a simple message often seem to allude towards something more than you actually hear in a total Brechtian, or in this case, Eisler way. Juxtapose that with Goebbels' improvisations and authentic recordings of Eisler's interviews which influenced Goebbels in the first place and you have a unique portrait of the artist from a unique perspective.