Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Magnus Granberg: How Lonely Sits the City? (version for quartet)

Magnus Granberg: How Lonely Sits the City? (version for quartet)

By John Eyles
October 30, 2022
View read count

In 2020 the Japanese Meenna label took the unprecedented step of releasing two different versions of

Magnus Granberg

composer / conductor

" data-original-title="" title="">Magnus Granberg's composition Come Down to Earth Where Sorrow Dwelleth within months of one another, the first performed by the American quartet Ordinary Affects, the second by a Japanese quartet of sho, koto, prepared piano and no-input mixing board; both versions were very well received.

In March 2022, Another Timbre released How Lonely Sits the City?, recorded in June 2021, and played by the septet

Skogen

" data-original-title="" title="">Skogen comprising two violins, one played by

Eva Lindal

violin

" data-original-title="" title="">Eva Lindal, harp played by

Stina Hellberg Agback

harp

" data-original-title="" title="">Stina Hellberg Agback, prepared piano played by Granberg himself, vibraphone, glockenspiel, whistling, objects, friction, piezo, percussion; it was very well received, with Granberg and Skogen both being praised.

The composition had been requested of Granberg in September 2019 by Agback and cellist

Leo Svensson Sander

cello

" data-original-title="" title="">Leo Svensson Sander; when work on it was about to start, the arrival of Covid and the lockdown led to a rethink. The piece that initially emerged was for a quartet comprising violinist Eva Lindal, Sander on cello, Agback on harp and Granberg on piano; however, as he wanted to do something during lockdown with his group Skogen, Granberg wrote additional parts to expand the piece to seven players, the version released on Another Timbre. Now, in a move reminiscent of the 2020 events, Meenna has released the quartet version of How Lonely Sits the City?, with the quartet of LIndall, Agback, Granberg and Sander.

If all of the above chopping and changing is confusing, it can be boiled down to a very simple resum��. Two different versions of How Lonely Sits the City have been issued, a septet version on Another Timbre and a quartet version on Meenna. The two versions are subtly different but each of them is excellent and highly rated. Rather than opting for one version, listeners—particularly Granberg afficionados—are recommended to hear both as they complement one another well and make fascinating listening.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

How Lonely Sits the City? (version for quartet)

Personnel

Magnus Granberg

composer / conductor

Eva Lindal

violin

Leo Svensson Sander

cello

Stina Hellberg Agback

harp

Additional Instrumentation

Magnus Granberg: prepared piano.

Album information

Title: How Lonely Sits the City? (version for quartet) | Year Released: 2022 | Record Label: Meenna

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Revolver Super Deluxe Edition (5CD)
< Previous

Bob Dylan: The Philosophy of Modern ...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.