Memories and minimalism are the main themes on this episode of Flotation Device. We celebrate the 50th anniversaries of three minimalist landmarks—two by Steve Reich and one by Philip Glass—contemplating the influence of Ewe drumming on the former, and verbal misunderstandings on the latter. We've also got an exclusive interview with Wang Lu about her latest premiere with Seattle Modern Orchestra, and her formative experiences as a composer in China and the US. New works by Yikii, Thomas Adès, Enno Poppe and Todd Sickafoose, plus the return of John Zorn’s Masada after a 15-year hiatus, round out a unique and memorable show.
Join Flotation Device live on Sunday nights 10pm–Midnight Pacific Time on 91.3 KBCS Bellevue/Seattle/Tacoma. Creative and improvised music from the Northwest and around the world with host Michael Schell.
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Flotation Device 2023-05-21: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: Glass 50 years ago [0:00]
1. [2:09] Philip Glass: Music in Twelve Parts - Part 2. From Music In Twelve Parts (Nonesuch, 1996) with Philip Glass Ensemble: Lisa Bielawa (voice), Jon Gibson, Andrew Sterman (flute, soprano saxophone), Richard Peck (alto and tenor saxophones), Philip Glass, Martin Goldray (keyboards), Michael Riesman (keyboards, musical director), James Law, Dante DeSole (recording engineers). NOTE: Premiered May 20, 1973 at 10 Bleecker Street, New York. Recorded 1993
2. [21:31] Wang Lu: Piccolo Trumpets: A Children’s Broadcast. From An Atlas of Time (New Focus, 2020) with Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Gil Rose (conductor), Joel Gordon (engineering). NOTE: Composed 2013
3. [25:00] Wang Lu: Aftertouch (excerpt). From Density 2036: Part VIII 2021 (New Focus, 2023) with Claire Chase (flute, alto flute, bass flute), Levy Lorenzo (live electronics), Russell Greenberg (techno beats). NOTE: Composed 2021⠀
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SET 2: Wang Lu [31:40]
1. [33:44] Wang Lu in conversation with Michael Schell
2. [50:20] Wang Lu: Caravaggio's Descent. From An Atlas of Time (as above)
3. [53:05] Yikii: Anomaly of Silence 静异. From The Crow-Cyan Lake 鸦青湖畔 (Unseelie, 2023) with Yikii Tong AKA Yikii
4. [56:09] Outro
6. [57:55] Todd Sickafoose: The Vastness of Everything Before. From Time to 1.5: Soundtrack to Threshold Season 4 (Secret Hatch, 2022) with Jonathan Goldberger, John Schott (guitars), Mathias Kunzli (drums, percussion), Todd Sickafoose (other instruments, recording engineer)⠀
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SET 3: Zappa meets Ornette meets Jewish Dante [1:03:25]
1. [1:05:22] John Zorn: Jair. From New Masada Quartet Vol. 2 (Tzadik, 2023) with New Masada Quartet: John Zorn (alto saxophone), Julian Lage (guitar), Jorge Roeder (bass), Kenny Wollesen (drums)
2. [1:09:48] Enno Poppe: Fleisch - 3. From Fleisch, Prozession (Wergo, 2023) with Ensemble Nikel: Patrick Stadler (tenor saxophone), Yaron Deutsch (electric guitar), Antoine Françoise (keyboards), Brian Archinal (drums), Maxime Le Saux (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2017
3. [1:13:59] Svoboda/O’Connor/Green: Time apart. From Time Together, Time Apart (577, 2023) with Joe O’Connor (piano), Helen Svoboda (double bass), Tim Green (drums and cymbals), James Savage (recording engineer). NOTE: Recorded July 2019 at Church of All Nations, Carlton, Melbourne, Australia
4. [1:21:01] Thomas Adès: Dante (excerpts). From Dante (Nonesuch, 2023) with Los Angeles Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel (conductor), Dmitriy Lipay (recording engineer)⠀
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SET 4: Reich 50 years ago [1:27:53]
1. [1:32:44] Steve Reich: Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ. From Drumming/Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ/Six Pianos (Deutsche Grammophon, 1974, reissued 2002 as Variations) with Russ Hartenberger, Bob Becker, Tim Ferchen, Steve Reich (marimbas), Glen Velez, Ben Harms (glockenspiels), James Preiss (metallophone), Janice Jarrett, Joan LaBarbara (voice), Jay Clayton (melodic voice), Steve Chambers (electric organ), Gerhard Henjew, Klaus Hiemann (recording engineers). NOTE: Premiered May 12, 1973 at John Weber Gallery, 420 West Broadway, New York. Recorded January 1974 in Hamburg
2. [1:51:22] Outro with Steve Reich: Six Pianos
Photo credits: Gustavo Dudamel via Los Angeles Philharmonic, Wang Lu by Matt Zugale, Philip Glass and Claire Chase via City University of New York, Yikii via the artist, Steve Reich and Musicians in 1974 (Bob Becker, Tim Ferchen, Jay Clayton, Joan La Barbara, Steve Chambers, SR) by Marcel Fugère, Todd Sickafoose by Hreinn Gudlaugsson, New Masada Quartet (Julian Lage, John Zorn, Kenny Wollesen, Jorge Roeder) via Roulette, Enno Poppe via Ricordi, Thomas Adès by Marco Borggreve, Trio (Tim Green, Helen Svoboda, Joe O’Connor) via 577 Records.