Join Radio Eclectus for a look back at 2020's most noteworthy releases of radical new music, featuring tracks by Frank Zappa, John Zorn, Roscoe Mitchell, Frederic Rzewski, Kaikhosru Sorabji, Gabriel Prokofiev, Agata Zubel, Mahan Esfahani, Sound-In, the JACK String Quartet, Sō Percussion, The Dwarfs of East Agouza and many more. Browse host Michael Schell's accompanying article (Music from behind a mask: Schell's picks for 2020) at Sequenza21.com, and follow along for three hours of intriguing music from around the world.
En route, we say goodbye to some of the musical voices lost to us in 2020. We also commemorate Beethoven’s semiquincentennial one last time, and send our birthday greetings to Paul Dresher for his 70th.
Annotated playlist and photo credits in the Comments section.
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Annotated playlist for show #77⠀
Intro and SET 1: Our picks of 2020, Carole Finer (1936–2020)⠀
1. [1:47] London Experimental Ensemble: Bessie Bell and Mary Grey. From Child Ballads (Split Rock Records, 2019) with Ed Pettersen (vocals, resonator guitar), Carole Finer (Cümbüş, violin, objects), Antonio Acunzo (piano, electric bass, effects), John Eyles (saxophone), Tony Hardie-Bick (piano), Ken Ikeda, Daniel Kordik (synthesizers), Edward Lucas (trombone), Keisuke Matsui (electric guitar), NO Moore (electric guitar), Jordan Muscatello (double bass), Joe Wright (saxophone, electronics)⠀
2. [11:29] Luc Ferrari: Programme commun «Musique socialiste?». From Musique? (Hyperion, 2020) with Mahan Esfahani (harpsichord). NOTE: Composed 1972⠀
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SET 2: More picks of 2020 [30:37]⠀
1. [34:12] Agata Zubel: Cleopatra’s Songs (excerpt). From Cleopatra's Songs (Kairos, 2020) with Agata Zubel (soprano), Klangforum Wien, Johannes Kalitzke (conductor). NOTE: Composed 2017⠀
2. [39:53] Oxana Omelchuk: Wow and Flutter for 2 trombones and ensemble - I. From Sieben Intraden (Wergo, 2019) with Matthias Muche, Daniel Riegler (trombones), Studio Dan, Stephan Schmidt (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2018⠀
3. [42:37] Jako Maron: Pendulé. From Alternate African Reality: Electronic, electroacoustic and experimental music from Africa and the diaspora (Syrphe, 2020)⠀
4. [47:41] Hans Eugen Frischknecht: Picture 4 for Prototyp 3 of ORGAN-INNOV-UM "Nov-Org". From Music for Special Organs (Neos, 2019)⠀
5. [50:17] Simon Toldam and Ways: Fame. From Fortunes (Lorna Records, 2020) with Simon Toldam (piano), Ways: Brodie West (alto saxophone), Evan Cartwright (drums)⠀
6. [52:52] Frederic Rzewski: Songs of Insurrection - 4. Foggy Dew (Ireland). From Songs of Insurrection (Coviello Classics, 2020) with Thomas Kotcheff (piano), Aaron Holloway-Nahum (engineering). NOTE: Composed 2016⠀
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SET 3: Picks of 2020, Noah Creshevsky (1945–2020) [1:01:18]⠀
1. [1:06:25] Noah Creshevsky: Estancia. From The Twilight of the Gods (Tzadik, 2010). NOTE: Realized 1999⠀
2. [1:13:15] Steve Layton and Sound-In: Le chat cambrioleur. From All Together Now (niwosound, 2020) with Benjamin Smith, Roger Sundström, Shane Cadman⠀
3. [1:20:57] Roscoe Mitchell: Distant Radio Transmission (excerpt). From Splatter (dischi di angelica, 2020) with Roscoe Mitchell (soprano saxophone), Thomas Buckner (baritone), Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Tonino Battista (conductor). NOTE: Music originally improvised by Roscoe Mitchell, Craig Taborn, Kikanju Baku. Transcription (2017) by Stephen P. Harvey. Transcription and orchestration of air sounds for strings (2017) by John Ivers. Orchestration (2017) by Roscoe Mitchell. Recorded live at AngelicA May 31, 2017, Teatro Auditorium Manzoni, Bologna⠀
4. [1:24:51] The Dwarfs of East Agouza: The Green Dogs of Dahshur. From The Green Dogs of Dahshur (Akuphone, 2020) with Alan Bishop (acoustic guitar, bass, alto sax), Sam Shalabi (electric guitar), Maurice Louca (organ, synthesizers, beats)⠀
5. [1:30:45] Anthony Gatto: Wise Blood (excerpts). From Wise Blood (New Focus, 2020) with Hazel Motes: Martin Bakari, Asa Hawks: Brian Major, Sabbath Lily Hawks: Holly Hansen, Mrs. Flood, Narrator, Mrs. Wally Bee Hitchcock: Gelsey Bell, Onnie Jay Holy: David Echelard, Enoch Emery: Jason Paul Andrews, Potato Peeler Hawker, Solace Layfield: Michael Sommers, Train Porter, Patrolman: Russell Rathbun, Adam Mecler Orchestra, David Bloom (conductor)⠀
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SET 4: Picks of 2020, Happy Birthday Paul Dresher [1:45:16]⠀
1. [1:50:51] Dan Trueman: Summoning Song. From Songs That Are Hard to Sing (New Amsterdam Records, 2019) with Jack Quartet, Sō Percussion⠀
2. [1:56:24] Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji: Transcendental Study No. 100: excerpt (Fuga a 5 soggetti). From 100 Transcendental Studies, Vol. 6 (BIS, 2021) with Fredrik Ullén (piano), Thore Brinkmann (sound engineer)⠀
3. [1:59:41] Okuden Quartet: Lesson II (excerpt). From Every Dog Has Its Day but It Doesn't Matter Because Fat Cat Is Getting Fatter (ESP Disk', 2020) with Mat Walerian (alto saxophone, bass clarinet, soprano clarinet, flute), Matthew Shipp (piano), William Parker (double bass, shakuhachi), Hamid Drake (drums, percussion)⠀
4. [2:04:45] Benjamín Vergara, Ben Bennett: On the Opposites. From Birds of Our Abyss (577 RECS, 2020) with Benjamin Vergara Portales (trumpet), Ben Bennett (percussion)⠀
5. [2:11:12] Coriún Aharonián: Una canción for flute, clarinet, viola, violoncello and piano. From Una Carta (Wergo, 2019) with Ensemble Aventure. NOTE: Composed 1998⠀
6. [2:14:25] Frank Zappa: Envelopes. From The Mothers 1970 (Zappa Records, 2020). Frank Zappa (vocals), George Duke (piano), Ian Underwood (organ), Aynsley Dunbar (drums). NOTE: Recorded June 1970, Trident Studios, London, England ⠀
7. [2:22:48] Paul Dresher: Twenty Years. From Power Failure (Bandcamp, 1999) with Stephanie Friedman, (mezzo-soprano), Paul Dresher Ensemble: Paul Dresher (keyboard, electric bass), Miguel Frasconi (keyboard), Ned Rothenberg (alto saxophone, bass clarinet), Gene Reffkin (electronic drums). NOTE: Part 2 of the American Trilogy 1988–89⠀
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SET 5: Picks of 2020, LvB (1770-1827) [2:27:13]⠀
1. [2:33:23] John Zorn: Visiones. From Virtue (Tzadik, 2020). Bill Frisell, Gyan Riley, Julian Lage (guitars)⠀
2. [2:35:15] Laurent Fairon: Prêtresses de Méroé. From 6th Annual Report (Unexplained Sounds Group, 2020)⠀
3. [2:40:11] The Bastard Kings of Samadhi: Prakya. From The Hailing Gates (Bandcamp, 2020) with W. David Oliphant⠀
4. [2:42:39] Gabriel Prokofiev: Beethoven9 Symphonic Remix (excerpts) From Beethoven Reimagined (Naxos, 2020) with Gabriel Prokofiev (electronics), BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Yaniv Segal (conductor). NOTE: Composed 2011
Photo credits: Gabriel Prokofiev by Nathan Gallagher, Luc Ferrari via the artist, Agata Zubel by Sabine Hauswirth, Carole Finer by Stefan Szczelkun, Roscoe Mitchell by Michael Hoefner, Noah Creshevsky by Michael Hafftka, Jako Maron via the artist, Frederic Rzewski via MEV, Frank Zappa by Jay L. Handler, John Zorn by Scott Irvine, Oxana Omelchuk via the artist, Sam Shalabi via Constellation Records, Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji by Joan Muspratt, Paul Dresher via the artist.