Before there was grunge, before there was Hendrix, there was…the prepared piano. In this we explore three new recordings featuring Seattle’s most famous musical invention, with Illegal Crowns and Ana Foutel demonstrating its use in contemporary free improv, while Agnese Toniutti represents Cage’s original conception via her fresh traversal of the Sonatas and Interludes. Cage’s influence is also evident in a classic Takemitsu/Roger Woodward collaboration that’s celebrating its 50th anniversary, and in a new Hannah Kendall composition for solo violin prepared with dreadlock cuffs.
We also continue our exploration of Liza Lim’s ambitious new orchestral triptych. Plus, Brian Baumbusch melds Nancarrow and minimalism, Elsa Bergman plays in a quintet, Sun Ra plays (uncharacteristically) in a quartet, while Anthony Pateras multitracks, Vassos Nicolaou writes for piano and Todd Sickafoose writes for podcast. Creative and improvised music from around the world, with host Michael Schell.
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Flotation Device 2023-05-07: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: The avant-garde in current and historical praxis [0:00]
1. [1:13] Todd Sickafoose: Holocene. From Time to 1.5: Soundtrack to Threshold Season 4 (Secret Hatch, 2022) with Jonathan Goldberger (guitar), Mathias Kunzli (drums, percussion), Todd Sickafoose (other instruments, recording engineer)
2. [4:18] Todd Sickafoose: Floating Brick Wall. From Time to 1.5: Soundtrack to Threshold Season 4 (as above) with Todd Sickafoose (other instruments, recording engineer)
3. [6:58] Vassos Nicolaou: Etude No. 12 (Distory). From Etudes & Frames (Pentatone, 2023) with Tamara Stefanovich (piano). NOTE: Composed 2015
4. [8:59] Brian Baumbusch: Three Elements for String Quartet - 3. Mercury. From Chemistry for Gamelan and String Quartet (New World, 2023) with JACK Quartet: Austin Wulliman, Christopher Otto (violins), John Richards (viola), Jay Campbell (cello), Ryan Streber (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2016
5. [13:17] Sun Ra: The World of the Invisible. From Deep Purple (Saturn, 1973, reissued 2018 by Modern Harmonic as The Cymbals/Symbols Sessions) with Sun Ra (organ), Eloe Omoe (bass clarinet), Ronnie Boykins (bass), Harry Richards (drums). NOTE: Recorded early 1973 in New York
6. [20:09] Anthony Pateras: Palimpsest Geometry (excerpts). From Two Solos (Futura Resistenza, 2023) with Callum G'Froerer (double-bell trumpet), Anthony Pateras (recording engineer)
7. [22:45] Anthony Pateras: There Is A Danger Only Our Mistakes Are New (excerpts). From Two Solos (as above) with Clara La Licata (voice), Anthony Pateras (recording engineer)⠀
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SET 2: The prepared piano in current and historical praxis (with Henry Cowell: The Banshee) [27:23]
1. [32:41] John Cage: Sonata II. From Sonatas & Interludes (Neuma, 2023) with Agnese Toniutti (prepared piano), Marco Melchior (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 1946–48
2. [34:43] Illegal Crowns: Fading Wave. From Unclosing (Out of Your Head, 2023) with Taylor Ho Bynum (cornet, flugelhorn), Mary Halvorson (guitar), Benoît Delbecq (prepared piano), Tomas Fujiwara (drums), Greg Di Crosta (recording engineer). NOTE: Composition by Benoît Delbecq
3. [43:38] Ana Foutel & King Imagine: Data Science (excerpts). From Archeology (Bandcamp, 2022) with Ana Foutel (piano), Alexey Mikryukov AKA King Imagine (electronics, objects, soundscapes, noises, chimes, bowls, etc.)
4. [51:48] John Cage: Sonata XII. From Sonatas & Interludes (credits as above)
5. [54:50] Outro with John Cage: Bacchanale
6. [59:32] Elsa Bergman: Rosmarie. From Playon Crayon (Bergman Inspelningar, 2023) with Susana Santos Silva (trumpet), Katt Hernandez (violin), David Stackenäs (guitar), Elsa Bergman (double bass), Matilda Rolfsson (drums), Göran Stegborn (recording engineer)⠀
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SET 3: Liza Lim [1:07:31]
1. [1:09:48] Liza Lim: Mary/Transcendence after Trauma. From Annunciation Triptych (Kairos, 2023) with WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Cristian Măcelaru (conductor), Mark Hohn (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2019–22⠀
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SET 4: 50 years ago in the avant-garde [1:27:28]
1. [1:30:14] Hannah Kendall: Weroon Weroon. From Symmetria Pario: Creation (Yarlung, 2023) with Pekka Kuusisto (violin), Bob Attiyeh, Arian Jansen (recording engineers)
2. [1:37:12] Tōru Takemitsu: Corona (London Version) excerpts. From Corona/For Away/Piano Distance/Undisturbed Rest (Decca, 1974, reissued 2014 as November Steps) featuring Roger Woodward (piano, organ, harpsichord). NOTE: Graphic score composed 1962, recorded May 4, 1973, Decca Studio No. 3, West Hampstead, London
3. [1:53:08] Outro with Tōru Takemitsu: For Away (performed by Roger Woodward)
Photo credits: Susana Santos Silva via the artist, Anthony Pateras by Philo Lenglet, John Cage by Irving Penn, Liza Lim by Klaus Rudolf, Tamara Stefanovich and Vassos Nicolaou by Susanne Teschner, Roger Woodward and Tōru Takemitsu at Decca Studio 3 (May 1973), Illegal Crowns (Tomas Fujiwara, Taylor Ho Bynum, Mary Halvorson, Benoit Delbecq) by Julian Parker-Burns, Brian Baumbusch by Michaelz1-Flickr, Ana Foutel via the artist, Hannah Kendall via the artist, Corona by Tōru Takemitsu, Todd Sickafoose by Hreinn Gudlaugsson, Elsa Bergman by Petra Cvelbar.