A mix of familiar and less-familiar names mingle in this cavalcade as we sample the latest from Gabriel Prokofiev, Unsuk Chin, Vivian Fung, Philip Zoubek, Sara Glojnarić and Melia Watras. We also celebrate the 90th birthday of Christian Wolff, the last surviving member of John Cage's inner circle from the 1950s, with a classic solo composition performed by Frederic Rzewski, who plays piano while singing and operating a hi-hat and kick drum.
Fred Frith marks his own 75th birthday with an expanded reissue of his classic Guitar Solos album from 1974. Peter Maxwell Davies’ chamber opera Miss Donnithorne's Maggot turns 50, the story of a broken heart and a rotting wedding cake. And we survey saxophonist Tim Berne’s recent output, noting his and John Zorn’s common debt to Ornette Coleman and Julius Hemphill. We close with a long look at Zorn the organist as he performs a set dedicated to Terry Riley during his own 70th birthday celebrations at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral.
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Flotation Device 2024-03-10 - Zorn, Wolff, Berne
A mix of familiar and less-familiar names mingle in this new podcast as we sample the latest releases from Gabriel Prokofiev, Unsuk Chin, Vivian Fung, Philip Zoubek, Sara Glojnarić and Seattle’s own Melia Watras. We also celebrate the 90th birthday of Christian Wolff (the last surviving member of John Cage's legendary New York School) with a classic work performed by Frederic Rzewski (who sings, plays piano, and accompanies himself with hi-hat and kick drum).
We also celebrate the 50th anniversary of Peter Maxwell Davies’ chamber opera Miss Donnithorne's Maggot, wherein a old woman sings of a broken heart and a rotting, uneaten wedding cake. Fred Frith marks his own 75th birthday and the 50th anniversary of his Guitar Solos album with a reannotated reissue of that classic of English avant-guitarism. And we preview Tim Berne’s March 2024 appearance at The Royal Room, noting his and John Zorn’s common debt to Ornette Coleman and Julius Hemphill. We close with a long look at Zorn the organist via the just-released recording of his 70th birthday performance at San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral, which he dedicated to Terry Riley. Creative and improvised music from the Northwest and around the world with host Michael Schell, originally aired March 10, 2024.
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Flotation Device 2024-03-10: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: Frith then and now [0:00]
1. [1:46] Fred Frith: Hello Music. From Guitar Solos (Caroline, 1974) with Fred Frith (guitar), David Vorhaus (recording engineer)
2. [3:17] Fred Frith: Move Indigo. From Guitar Solos/Fifty (Week-End, 2024) with Fred Frith (guitar)
3. [7:07] Philip Zoubek Trio Extended: Labyrinthus. From Mirage (Boomslang, 2023) with Philip Zoubek (piano, synthesizer), David Helm (bass), Dominik Mahnig (drums), Leonhard Huhn (woodwinds), Elisabeth Coudoux (cello), Shiau-shiuan Hung (vibraphone, cello), Stefan Deistler (recording engineer)
4. [12:32] Sara Glojnarić: Artefacts #2 (excerpts). From Pure Bliss (Kairos, 2023) with Sarah Maria Sun (soprano), Dirk Rothbrust (percussion). NOTE: Composed 2019 for soprano, drumset and tape
5. [18:03] Gabriel Prokofiev: Breaking Screens - ChangeUp. From Pastoral 21 (Signum, 2024) with Gabriel Prokofiev (synthesisers, electronics), UNLTD Collective: Çiğdem Tunçelli Sinangil, Songha Choi (violins), Martin Moriarty, Kinga Wojdolska (violas), Alfredo Ferre, Antonin Musset (cellos), Ronan Phelan (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2016–18
6. [20:13] Gabriel Prokofiev: Breaking Screens - Reflessivo. From Pastoral 21 (as above)
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SET 2: Tim Berne comes to town [24:13]
1. [27:51] Tim Berne: Gastrophobia. From Mars (Intakt, 2022) with Tim Berne (alto saxophone), Gregg Belisle-Chi (guitar), Chris Bittner (recording engineer)
2. [31:02] Melia Watras: Echo. From Play/Write (Planet M, 2024) with Rachel Lee Priday (violin), David Sabee (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2020
3. [36:16] Tim Berne, Hank Roberts, Aurora Nealand: Mortal and Pestered. From Oceans And (Intakt, 2023) with Tim Berne (alto saxophone), Aurora Nealand (voice, accordion), Hank Roberts (cello), Joe Branciforte (recording engineer)
4. [41:52] Vivian Fung: String Quartet No. 2 - 2. Of the Wind. From Insects & Machines (Sono Luminus, 2023) with Jasper String Quartet: J. Freivogel, Karen Kim (violins), Andrew Gonzalez (viola), Rachel Henderson Freivogel (cello), Daniel Shores (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2009
5. [44:54] Vivian Fung: String Quartet No. 2 - 3. Of Birds and Insects. From Insects & Machines (as above)
6. [48:21] Ornette Coleman: Broadway Blues. From Spy vs Spy: The Music of Ornette Coleman (Elektra, 1989) with John Zorn, Tim Berne (alto saxophones), Mark Dresser (bass), Joey Baron, Michael Vatcher (drums), Steve Rinkoff (recording engineer)
7. [52:08] Outro with Julius Hemphill: Dogon A.D. (performed by Tim Berne)
8. [57:32] Christian Wolff: Accompaniments (excerpts). From Lines, Accompaniments (CRI, 1976, reissued 2012 by New World) with Frederic Rzewski (piano), Frank Laico (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 1972
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SET 3: Miss Donnithorne's strings [1:04:24]
1. [1:07:23] Peter Maxwell Davies: Miss Donnithorne's Maggot (excerpts). From Miss Donnithorne's Maggot (NMC, 2022) with Jane Manning (soprano), Psappha: Conrad Marshall (flute), Dov Goldberg (clarinet), David Routledge (violin), Jennifer Langridge (cello), Richard Casey (piano), Tim Williams (percussion). NOTE: Premiered March 9. 1974 by Mary Thomas (mezzo-soprano), The Fires of London and Peter Maxwell Davies (conductor) at Town Hall, Adelaide, Australia
2. [1:15:44.644 Unsuk Chin: Chorós Chordón. From The Unsuk Chin Edition (Berliner Philharmoniker Recordings, 2023) with Berliner Philharmoniker, Simon Rattle (conductor). NOTE: Composed 2017
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SET 4: Zorn the organist [1:27:57]
1. [1:30:39] John Zorn: A New Door Opens (excerpts). From The Hermetic Organ Vol. 11: For Terry Riley (Tzadik, 2024) with John Zorn (organ), Elijah Dowd, Kasper Rodenborn (recording engineers). NOTE: Recorded live September 2, 2023 at Zorn@70, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco
2. [1:35:40] John Zorn: Elissa's Tears (excerpts). From The Hermetic Organ Vol. 11: For Terry Riley (credits as above)
3. 1:53:17] Outro with Terry Riley: Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector
Photo credits: Sarah Maria Sun by Thomas Schumann, Unsuk Chin by Koo Bon-sook, John Zorn by Michelle V. Agins/New York Times, Fred Frith by Ray Smith, Christian Wolff by Gordon Mumma, Gabriel Prokofiev by Nathan Gallagher, Melia Watras by Michelle Smith-Lewis, Tim Berne Trio (Gregg Belisle-Chi, Tom Rainey, TB) by Sarah Berne, Vivian Fung by Geneviève Caron, Terry Riley by Brian McMillen, Jane Manning in Miss Donnithorne's Maggot by Tim Williams