Set Aglow

Both prolific artists in their respective areas, Martyn Heyne and Claudio Puntin build on fragments from the vast and tumultuous libraries of the musical endeavours and traditions in which they have previously been involved. In moments tranquilly acoustic, at other times wildly electric or dazzlingly repetitive, the single objective of their music seems to be its constant development, the feeling around for new doors, the next logical conclusion and the next point of departure. Rather than using premeditated structures, the playing follows an exploratory thread, a glowing filament.

Heyne and Puntin recorded their first album in 2014 in a magnificently reverberant church in Berlin. Along with them, they brought a fine and somewhat archaic collection of 50’s German recording equipment and a colourful selection of instruments, as both of them like to give in to multi-instrumental leanings at times. The session commenced at midnight and was concluded by the sunrise coming up the aisle.

Puntin and Heyne have played concerts across Europe, as well as Turkey and Iran.

Claudio Puntin is considered one of the leading creative soloists on all clarinets. His elegant rhythmical variety and his sound are unmistakable. Joachim-Ernst Berendt describes him in his book as ‘an extreme legato player, great sounding improviser, and skilled technician who connects the notes subtly while phrasing with a strong rhythmical drive.’

His work connected Puntin with artists such as Max Loderbauer, Ricardo Villalobos, and Skúli Sverrisson in the field of electronic music, as well as with Steve Reich, Sidsel Endresen, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Samuel Rohrer, and the Ensemble Modern. His compositions include works for chamber ensembles, orchestra and choir. He also set music to works by artists from other fields including Anselm Kiefer, and Orhan Pamuk.

With his groups Claudio Puntin has performed in more than 80 countries, and can be heard on many recordings for labels such as ECM, Enja, and Deutsche Grammophon.