Marcel P.
(sound engineering, cello, bass guitar, live vocals)
occationally assisted by various valuable friends:
sG | Damiano Mercuri | Herr Twiggs | Troy Southgate | Dimo Dimov | René P.
upcoming collaborators:
Dev | Radu Munteanu | Gerhard Hallstatt
Influences
Vyasa | Homer | Quintus Smyrnaeus | Vergil | Dante Alighieri | John Milton | Friedrich Hölderlin | Gustav Schwab | Charles Baudelaire | Stefan George & his circle | Uuno Kailas | Count Eric Stenbock | Ernst Jünger | Oswald Spengler | Julius Evola | Emile Cioran | Carlo Michelstaedter
Sounds Like
Songs From The Ivory Tower
(CD 2008, Cold Spring)
Dreams And Dust
(CD-R 2008, D.N.R., ltd. 15)
Fragmente II
(CD-R 2006, ltd. 50)
Salon Décadence (Split)
(CD 2006, Neo-Form, ltd. 500)
Die Große Marina
(LP 2003, Renovatio, ltd. 300)
"The songs represent oft-doleful odes to a Europe long lost, taking the form of striking piano pieces at times rivalling the intensity of Diamanda Galas augmented with delicately-positioned string instruments." (Zero Tolerance Magazine)
"Die Scheibe ist neoklassisch, klaviergeprägt, schwer depressiv, lyrisch ansprechend-alteuropäisch und dennoch voller Abwechslung im Rahmen dessen, was ein Projekt wie SAGITTARIUS an Abwechslung verkraftet, ohne seine Identität zu verlieren. Ich habe nie daran gezweifelt, daß Cornelius mit „Songs from the Ivory Tower" eine gute Scheibe abliefern wird. Daß SAGITTARIUS hier aber dermaßen überwältigend sind, war selbst für mich eine Überraschung. Pflichtkauf für Freunde des Genres!!! SAGITTARIUS calling..." (Iut de Asken Magazin)
"The style of Sagittarius can be described as crossover between grandiose expressions of neo-classical and the authenticity of neo-folk. […] Another excellent release from the Cold Spring label once again proving that artists from the extreme metal has more to offer than expressions of pure wrath." (Vital Weekly / EarLabs)
"Songs From The Ivory Tower" ist in der Summe ein sehr intensives und vor allem sehr intimes Album, das aufgrund seiner zeitlosen Schlichtheit und der wunderschönen Arrangements immer wieder seinen Weg in den CD-Player finden wird und einfach nur begeistert." (Obliveon Magazin, 10/10)
"[…] Sagittarius succeeds in being very beautiful and sensitive, in an honest and simple manner fitting the most beautiful folk aesthetics. The melodies are delicate and skillful compositions, the richness of the piano's sound has been perfectly captured, and Waldner's voice carries plenty of emotion." (Kuolleen musiikin yhdistys)
"Die Klaviatur der Fusion sanfter Pianoklänge mit introvertiert und rezitativ vorgetragenen Gedichten gelingt hervorragend und umschifft weiträumig die Gefahr kitschiger (Marmor-) Klippen. […] Unterm Strich eine mehr als lohnenswerte Anschaffung für Freunde neoklassischer und neofolkloristischer Musik." (Legacy Magazin, 12 / 15)
"[…] Songs From The Ivory Tower is an effortlessly pleasant listen, with many talented musicians playing real instruments, strong lyrics and beautiful neo-classical arrangements." (Judas Kiss Magazine)
LIFE: TO SWING FROM POLE TO POLE
DEATH IS LIVING CLEAR AND WHOLE
DREAM IS WAKING MOST CONSUMMATE
LOVE, THE LAUGHTER OF THE PLANETS
THOUGHT IS LIGHT AND RAPT REFLECTION
FATE, RENEWAL AND DIRECTION
(Karl Wolfskehl)
The idea to form the music project which turned out to become Sagittarius evolved in the end of 1998. Back then project founder Cornelius Waldner was concentrating his musical skills on his black metal-band Hailstorm, but felt the urge and need to work more intensively with classical music and soundscapes.
After two cassette releases in 1999 and 2002, Sagittarius's debut LP "Die Große Marina" saw the day of light in April 2003, being released by the German publishing house Renovatio Verlag in 300 copies on heavy white vinyl, clad into an elegant gatefold-package. It was a conceptual composition based on Ernst Jünger's novel "On The Marblecliffs", but should not be understood as an attempt to put the entire book into music, instead, selected scenes and passages were picked out and inspired Sagittarius during the process of creation. Apart from six own compositions, the album also included musical pieces by Ion Manzatu, Simion Lefter and Ludwig van Beethoven.
The second full-length CD by Sagittarius, entitled "Songs From The Ivory Tower", was finally released by Cold Spring Records following a five year long creation process in May 2008. The opus contained 15 pieces of dark neoclassical music mainly based on poems by Stefan George, Bernhard von Uxkull-Gyllenband, Gottfried Benn, Ludwig Uhland and Timo Kölling, plus a number of instrumental pieces, featuring guest contributions by Marcel P. (Von Thronstahl), Herr Twiggs (Kammer Sieben), Damiano Mercuri (Rose Rovine E Amanti), Troy Southgate (H.E.R.R. / Seelenlicht) and Philipp Jonas (Secrets Of The Moon).
In June 2008 Marcel P. joined Sagittarius as a permanent member. Right now the project is working on its third full-length CD "The Kingdom Come". Even more influenced by the intellectual world of the German poet Stefan George, the new album will contain 12 compositions standing in the tradition of the classic European art song. Once again Sagittarius will be joined by a number of highly skilled guest musicians, underlining the project’s role as sophisticated musical interpreters of traditional German and European word art.
CONTACT:
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