For Those Who Died Trying

Artists

Album Info

Release Date: 2018-11-16

Label: Atma Classique

World-renowned Mivos Quartet records the 35-movement string quartet, The Thailand HRDs, by Canadian composer Frank Horvat. This piece was inspired by the photo essay, For Those Who Died Trying, by photographer Luke Duggleby.

For Those Who Died Trying presents photographs of murdered or abducted Human Rights Defenders in Thailand by placing a portrait of the victim, when possible at the exact place where they were murdered or went missing. “We wanted this photo exhibition to expose the situation of human rights defenders in Thailand and support their legitimate quest for justice,” said Liliana De Marco Coenen, Executive Director of Protection International.

The Thailand HRDs presents each photo in a 2-minute classical string-quartet composition utilizing just the musical pitches/letters found in the names of each victim – implanting their unique musical DNA in every piece. “This music is not intended to be purely melancholic but have a tinge of defiance so the memory of these heroes lives on and will hopefully spur listeners to find their inner activist and fight for what they feel is important in this world,” explains Frank Horvat, the composer.

“Performed with intensity and poise by the Mivos Quartet…the resulting
tributes are poignant.”
– Steph Power, BBC Music Magazine

“Frank Horvat’s string quartet ‘For Those Who Died Trying’ is a musical outcry
against the constant violation of human rights in Thailand and a sensitive
portrait of [37] exceptional people. It’s a profound, moving and ultimately
timeless album.”
– Maxi Einenkel, Klassik Magazine

“It is impossible to escape Frank Horvat’s mystical hypothesis that music
is somehow part of all human DNA…a testament to the genius of Horvat
that he is able to craft this into each segment of this unique 35-movement
string quartet.”
– Raul da Gama, WholeNote Magazine