Clashing cultures take the spotlight in this program, with Balkan bagpipes driving Downtown fusion, Balinese gamelans accompanying string quartets, and Jakarta street synths backing Western saxophones. We continue our exploration of EunHo Chang’s new album wherein traditional Korean instruments and voices coexist with sounds more reminiscent of Boulez and Donna Summer. We take our first dive into major new orchestral works by Liza Lim (honoring three famous mythic females) and Tyondai Braxton (deploying real instruments to evoke the sound world of sampled instruments). Plus, we celebrate the 50th birthdays of a Rzewski minimalist landmark, a torrential Nancarrow player piano study, and our host KBCS-FM—who we genuinely hope you’ll support in its Spring Fund Drive!
Creative and improvised music with host Michael Schell. The Northwest’s premiere contemporary music radio show, on the air since 2001.
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Flotation Device 2023-04-23: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: Studio works [0:00]
1. [1:12] Rizky Argadipradja, Wahono: . Dua. From Tiga Bilangan (DIVISI62, 2023) with Rizky Argadipradja, Wahono (wind/brass instruments, electronics)
2. [5:44] Tyondai Braxton: TK2_Wavefolder. From Telekinesis (Nonesuch, New Amsterdam, 2022) with Metropolis Ensemble, Andrew Cyr (conductor), The Crossing, Donald Nally (conductor), Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Dianne Berkun Menaker (conductor), Tyondai Braxton (electronics, celeste), Ryan Streber (recording engineer)⠀
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SET 2: Boulez loves to love you, baby [14:34]
1. [16:40] EunHo Chang: Sensational Bliss (excerpts). From Sensational Bliss (Kairos, 2023) with Eunho Chang (saenghwang, piano), Youngji Oh (pansori), Yunsuk Eom (gayageum), Olga Siemieńczuk (soprano), Rafal Zolkos (flute), Sunyoon Won (violin), Dmitry Lee (cello), Youngwoo Lee (piano)⠀
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SET 3: 50 years ago in the avant-garde [31:15]
1. [33:18] Frederic Rzewski: Coming Together. From Coming Together, Attica, Les Moutons de Panurge (Opus One, 1974, rereleased 2018 by Black Sweat) with Steve Ben Israel (speaker), Jon Gibson (alto saxophone), Richard Youngstein (bass), Frederic Rzewski (piano, electric piano), Alvin Curran (synthesizer), Garrett List (trombone), Karl Berger (vibraphone), Joan Kalisch (viola). NOTE: Recorded April 20, 1973 at Blue Rock Studio, New York. See Michael Schell's overview of Rzewski's career, including Coming Together, at https://tinyurl.com/Rzewski
2. [52:32] Outro with Frederic Rzewski: Attica (with Alter Ego, 2002)
3. [56:47] Mat Muntz: Obokuri. From Phantom Islands (Orenda, 2023) with Mat Muntz (primorski meh, bass, compositions), Pablo O'Connell (oboe), Yuma Uesaka (clarinets), Xavier Del Castillo (tenor saxophone), Alec Goldfarb (guitar), Michael Larocca (drums), Rene Pierre Allain (recording engineer)⠀
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SET 4: Polytempo music [1:03:13]
1. [1:05:14] Brian Baumbusch: Hydrogen(2)Oxygen - 1. Hydrogen (Gas). From Chemistry for Gamelan and String Quartet (New World, 2023) with Nata Swara, Putu Septa (musical director), JACK Quartet: Christopher Otto, Austin Wulliman (violins), John Richards (viola), Jay Campbell (cello), Ryan Streber, Brian Baumbusch, I Kadek Prima Santosa Dwi Putra, I Putu Gede Sukaryana (recording engineers). NOTE: Composed 2015
2. [1:19:56] Conlon Nancarrow: Study No. 40a for player piano. From Studies for Player Piano (Wergo, 1991) with Robert Shumaker (recording engineer). NOTE: Recorded digitally January 10–12, 1988 on Nancarrow's custom-altered 1927 Ampico reproducing piano at his studio in Mexico City⠀
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SET 5: Lim and Sappho [1:24:32]
1. [1:28:00] Conlon Nancarrow: Study No. 40b for two player pianos. From Complete Studies For Player Piano Volume Two (1750 Arch, 1979, remastered and reissued 2008 by Other Minds as Studies for Player Piano: The Original 1750 Arch Recordings) with Robert Shumaker (recording engineer, remastering). NOTE: Two overlapping playbacks of Study No. 40a, recorded April 1977 on Nancarrow's two custom-altered 1927 Ampico reproducing pianos at his studio in Mexico City
2. [1:32:24] Perila: Air Like Velvet. From How much time it is between you and me? (Smalltown Supersound, 2021) with Aleksandra Zakharenko AKA Perila
3. [1:35:27] Liza Lim: Sappho/Bioluminescence. From Annunciation Triptych (Kairos, 2023) with WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Cristian Măcelaru (conductor), Mark Hohn (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2019–22
4. [1:50:40] Outro with Liza Lim: The Oresteia
Photo credits: Mat Muntz by Luke Marantz, Conlon Nancarrow via 1750 Arch Records, Liza Lim by Maria Sturm, Eunho Chang by Agathe Poupeney, Brian Baumbusch by Michaelz1/Flickr, score excerpt by Frederic Rzewski, Tyondai Braxton via the artist, Frederic Rzewski and Nicole Abbeloos via Alexis Rzewski, Aleksandra Zakharenko AKA Perila by Marissa Patrice Leitman.