Premiere recordings of Saariaho and Hosokawa take the spotlight on this show, along with a centenary celebration for Chou Wen-chung (1923–2019) featuring reminiscences from Bright Sheng and Chen Yi, two of the “great generation” of Chinese composers who followed Chou from China to New York after the Cultural Revolution ended. Plus, Sam Pluta and Wet Ink Large Ensemble unveil a newfangled concertino for video game and chamber orchestra, while Kate Gentile pursues a Braxtonian approach to hybrid composition with International Contemporary Ensemble. Yikii and Lary 7 offer more mechanical takes on industrial life in their new solo albums, as the Nagano/Falcón duo, the Grdina/Maneri/Lillinger trio and the Quebecois sextet Allochtone offer improvisational perspectives from four continents. Seattleite Doug Haire draws more prosaic influences from the sound of breeze and nature, and a cameo from Emerson, Lake & Palmer (via our 50 years ago in the avant-garde feature) rounds out the playlist.
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Flotation Device 2023-07-30: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: Around the world [0:00]
1. [1:26] Kate Gentile: drobe. From b i o m e i.i (Obliquity, 2023) with Kate Gentile (drums, percussion), International Contemporary Ensemble: Isabel Lepanto Gleicher (flute, piccolo), Joshua Rubin (clarinet, bass clarinet), Rebekah Heller (bassoon), Jennifer Curtis (violin), Cory Smythe (piano), Ross Karre (vibraphone, percussion), Ryan Streber (recording engineer)
2. [5:27] Kate Gentile: ikbii. From b i o m e i.i (credits as above)
3. [8:59] Lary 7: XYLO. From Larynx (Blank Forms, 2023)
4. [10:36] Allochtone: comme une banane. From Plaît-il? (Tour de Bras, 2023) with Allochtone: Cathy Heyden (saxophone, objects, effects), André Pelletier (keyboards, melodica), Robin Servant (accordion, electronics), Olivier D'Amours (electric guitar), Alexandre Dubuc (bass, vocoder, electronics), Rémi Leclerc (drums, percussion, Wavedrum, turntable, electronics), Philippe Venne, Rémi Leclerc (recording engineers). NOTE: Composition by Rémi Leclerc
5. [14:07] Yikii: Azure Zoo/蜻蛉之歌. From 铃宕/Black Hole Ringdown (Bandcamp, 2023) with Yikii Tong AKA Yikii
6. [16:52] Sana Nagano, Leonor Falcón: Expanding Universe. From Peach and Tomato (577, 2023) with Sana Nagano (violin, effects), Leonor Falcón (viola, effects), Michael Perez-Cisneros (recording engineer). NOTE: Composition by Leonor Falcón⠀
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SET 2: Kaija Saariaho (1952–2023) [24:04]
1. [28:34] Grdina | Maneri | Lillinger: Conjure (excerpts). From Live at the Armoury (Clean Feed, 2023) with Gordon Grdina (electric guitar), Mat Maneri (viola), Christian Lillinger (drums). NOTE: Recorded 2018 at The Armoury Studios, Vancouver, BC
2. [40:49] Kaija Saariaho: Reconnaissance (excerpts). From Reconnaissance (BIS, 2023) with Helsinki Chamber Choir, Uusinta Ensemble, Nils Schweckendiek (conductor), Hans Kipfer (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2020, premiere recording
3. [54:12] Outro with Kaija Saariaho: Nuits, adieux
4. [1:01:04] Emerson, Lake & Palmer: Toccata. From Brain Salad Surgery (Manticore, 1973) with Keith Emerson (keyboards), Greg Lake (bass, electric guitars), Carl Palmer (drums, percussion, percussion synthesizers). NOTE: After Alberto Ginastera: Piano Concerto No. 1 - 4. Toccata concertata⠀
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SET 3: Chou Wen-chung at 100 [1:08:26]
1. [1:10:58] Sam Pluta: Actuate/Resonate. From Missing Scenes (Carrier, 2023) with Wet Ink Large Ensemble: Erin Lesser (flutes), Karisa Antonio (oboe), Rane Moore (clarinet), Geoff Deibel (saxophones), Laura Weiner (horn), Ian Antonio, Russell Greenberg (percussion), Jacqui Kerrod (harp), Julia den Boer (piano), Josh Modney, Pala Garcia (violins), Carrie Frey (viola), Mariel Roberts (cello), Eric Wubbels (conductor), Sam Pluta (electronics), Levi Lu (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2018
2. [1:23:44] Chen Yi remembers Chou Wen-chung
3. [1:24:18] Chou Wen-chung: String Quartet No. 2 "Streams" - 3. Canonic Perpetual Motion (Contrapunctus Variabilis III). From Clouds (Mode, 2011) with Brentano String Quartet: Mark Steinberg, Serena Canin (violins), Misha Amory (viola), Nina Lee (cello). NOTE: Composed 2003
4. [1:25:54] Chou Wen-chung on cross-cultural music
5. [1:26:22] Chou Wen-chung: String Quartet No. 1 "Clouds" (excerpts). From Clouds (credits as above). NOTE: Composed 1996
6. [1:29:36] Chou Wen-chung: Twilight Colors - 2. Colors of Dawn (Contrapunctus Variabilis VI). From Clouds (Mode, 2011) with Boston Musica Viva: Ann Bobo (flute), Nancy Dimock (oboe, English horn), William Kirkley (clarinet), Bayla Keyes (violin), Peter Sulski (viola), Jan Muller-Szeraws (cello), Richard Pittman (conductor), Greg Tobler (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2007
7. [1:31:19] Bright Sheng remembers Chou Wen-chung
8. [1:31:45] Chou Wen-chung: Twilight Colors - 3. In the Mist (Contrapunctus Variabilis VII). From Clouds (credits as above)⠀
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SET 4: SET 4: Music of the wind, plus Sheng, Chen and Wang Lu remember Chou's cuisine [1:35:18]
1. [1:39:17] Toshio Hosokawa: Windscapes. From Chattering Birds (Wergo, 2023) with ISANIE Percussion Duo: Leonie Klein, Isao Nakamura (percussion), Angela Öztanil (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 1996. Premiere recording
2. [1:48:44] Doug Haire: S Of Lucky Ranch Lake (Dry). From Fort Windmill (Bandcamp, 2023)
3. [1:55:37] Outro with Toshio Hosokawa: Flute Concerto "Per-Sonare"
Photo credits: Sana Nagano and Leonor Falcón by Luke Marantz, Kaija Saariaho by Andrew Campbell, Toshio Hosokawa by Vioworld, Kate Gentile via the artist, Yikii via the artist, Sam Pluta via the artist, Emerson Lake & Palmer via the artists, Chou Wen-chung via the artist, Allochtone via Tour de Bras, Mat Maneri by Žiga, Doug Haire via the artist.