Madis Muul and the Muul Ensemble present Echoes of Layers, a work shaped by nature and inner landscapes.
Estonia’s Madis Muul reveals his latest chamber work, String Quartet No. 1 “Echoes of Layers”, performed by the Muul Ensemble. This piece represents a thoughtful convergence of European contemporary classical traditions with South Indian Carnatic influences, shaped through both environment and personal exploration.
Inspired by the simple act of walking through the forest, Muul creates a musical path that reflects nature’s gradual complexity. The composition’s three movements open individual windows into the broader concept: 
- I. Horizon. Unfolding: Begins with vast simplicity, gradually revealing detail and depth.
- II. Growth. Time: Takes cues from Percy Smith’s The Birth of a Flower (1910), emphasizing natural patterns and transformation.
- III. Depths. Cells: Delivers a meditative soundscape influenced by the tampura, emphasizing the introspective.
With a background that spans jazz piano studies in Italy and composition in the Netherlands, Muul’s broad training manifests in his fusion of musical disciplines. Collaborating with Giridhar Udupa, a respected figure in Indian percussion, has also contributed to the cross-cultural texture of this quartet.
Muul’s accolades include the 2022 Estonian Theater Award and second place at the International Songwriting Awards, along with recognition from the Estonian Jazz Awards. He continues to perform on stages throughout Europe, with his artistry praised by All About Jazz as “cosmic, tender, and deeply immersive.”
Looking forward, he plans to introduce String Quartet No. 2 in spring 2026, with both quartets released in a special vinyl edition.
