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Sylvie Courvoisier, the Swiss-born, Brooklyn-based pianist, joins us for an interview to discuss her music, which draws on composed and improvised traditions from both sides of the Atlantic. We sample her two latest albums: a solo release called To Be Other-Wise and a collection of duets with Mary Halvorson entitled Bone Bells. We also sample Matthew Herbert’s bone-centric recording project, The Horse, in its new expanded release. And our 50 years ago in the avant-garde feature helps us connect Courvoisier to Nancarrow and Messiaen, Messiaen to Xenakis, Xenakis to Braxton, Braxton to Zorn, and Zorn back to Courvoisier. Creative and improvised music from the Northwest and around the world with host Michael Schell, originally broadcast June 29, 2025 on KBCS Bellevue/Seattle/Tacoma.
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Wow! Scorching and scintillating set. This is a masterclass in mixing! 🎶. Great track list and butter smooth transitions. This is FIERCE, FLAWLESS and FABULOUS like you. Congratulations on your success. Your mixes are among the best on Mixcloud. Have a fantastic successful summer and year. 🎶 I enjoy your shows tremendously.
They have a great vibe and flow perfectly. 🌈🌈🌈 Good luck ! I understand why you have so many supporters. ❤️❤️😀😀
Good luck ❤️ 2025 is your stellar year for amazing accomplishments.
Flotation Device 2025-06-29: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: Imaginary bone instruments [0:00]
1. [1:42] Sylvie Courvoisier Trio: Just Twisted (for John Zorn). From Free Hoops (Intakt, 2020) with Sylvie Courvoisier (piano), Drew Gress (bass), Kenny Wollesen (drums, Wollesonics), Ryan Streber (recording engineer, Oktaven Audio)
2. [5:50] Sylvie Courvoisier: Frisking (for Henry Cowell). From To Be Other-Wise (Intakt, 2024) with Sylvie Courvoisier (prepared piano), Manfred Seiler, Manuel Braun (recording engineers)
3. [9:16] Sylvie Courvoisier: Éclats for Ornette. From Time Gone Out (Intakt, 2019) with Sylvie Courvoisier (piano), Mark Feldman (violin), Ryan Streber (recording engineer, Oktaven Audio)
4. [13:09] Sylvie Courvoisier: Twirling (for Ned Rothenberg). From To Be Other-Wise (as above) with Sylvie Courvoisier (piano), Manfred Seiler, Manuel Braun (recording engineers)
5. [15:49] Sylvie Courvoisier: Partout des prunelles flamboient. From Chimaera (Intakt, 2023) with Nate Wooley (trumpet L channel), Wadada Leo Smith (trumpet R channel), Christian Fennesz (guitar, electronics), Sylvie Courvoisier (piano), Drew Gress (bass), Kenny Wollesen (drums, vibraphone), Ryan Streber (recording engineer, Oktaven Audio)
6. [24:07] Sylvie Courvoisier: Nags Head Valse. From Bone Bells (Pyroclastic, 2025) with Mary Halvorson (guitars), Sylvie Courvoisier (piano), Ryan Streber (recording engineer, Oktaven Audio)
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SET 2: Sylvie Courvoisier and her influences [27:47]
1. [29:57] Sylvie Courvoisier in conversation with Michael Schell. NOTE: Video is at https://tinyurl.com/SylvieCourvoisier
2. [40:25] Sylvie Courvoisier: Preluding (for Conlon Nancarrow). From To Be Other-Wise (as above) with Sylvie Courvoisier (piano), Manfred Seiler, Manuel Braun (recording engineers)
3. [42:43] Conlon Nancarrow: Study No. 43 for player piano. From Player Piano 7 (MDG-SCENE, 2008) with Jürgen Hocker (Bösendorfer Grand Piano with 1927 Ampico Player Piano Mechanism), Jörg Borchardt (restoration). NOTE: Believed to have been completed in 1975 as Study No. 38. Renumbered for a commission by Sterischer Herbst for its premiere on October 31, 1982 at the ISCM World Music Days, Graz, Austria
4. [49:08] Sylvie Courvoisier: Curio In Trivia. From Ocre (Enja, 1997) with Sylvie Courvoisier (piano), Pierre Charial (Orgue de Barbarie [barrel organ]), Michel Godard (tuba), Tony Overwater (double bass), Mark Nauseef (percussion), Walter Quintus (recording engineer, CMP Studio)
5. [55:52] Outro with Icaria (Mark Feldman, Erik Friedlander, Sylvie Courvoisier)
6. [1:01:39] Sylvie Courvoisier Trio: Bourgeois's Spider. From Juneteenth: A Catalytic Sound Compilation (Catalytic-Sound, 2020) with Sylvie Courvoisier (piano), Drew Gress (bass), Kenny Wollesen (drums)
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SET 3: Real bone instruments [1:09:13]
1. [1:11:23] Matthew Herbert: The Horse (excerpts). From The Horse (Modern, 2023) with Evan Parker, London Contemporary Orchestra, Matthew Herbert
2. [1:24:34] Matthew Herbert: The Horse's Pelvis Is a Lyre (Nyokabi Kariũki remix). From The Horse Special Edition (Accidental, 2024) with Nyokabi Kariũki (remix), Jali Bakary, London Contemporary Orchestra, Matthew Herbert
3. [1:30:31] Anthony Braxton: Opus 23G. From Five Pieces 1975 (Arista, 1975) with Anthony Braxton (alto saxophone), Kenny Wheeler (trumpet), Dave Holland (bass), Barry Altschul (drums), Tony May (recording engineer). NOTE: Recorded July 2, 1975 at Generation Sound, New York
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SET 4: 50 years ago in the avant-garde [1:38:42]
1. [1:40:49] Anthony Braxton: Opus 23H. From Five Pieces 1975 (as above) with Anthony Braxton (flute), Kenny Wheeler (muted trumpet), Dave Holland (bass), Barry Altschul (drums), Tony May (recording engineer). NOTE: Recorded July 2, 1975 at Generation Sound, New York
2. [1:45:26] Iannis Xenakis: Empreintes. From Orchestral Works, Volume 1 (Timpani, 2000) with Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg, Arturo Tamayo (conductor), Jeannot Mersch (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 1975, premiered June 29, 1975 in La Rochelle, France
3. [1:55:56] Outro with You Stepped Out of a Dream (Anthony Braxton, Dave Holland)
Photo credits: Abaton Trio (Sylvie Courvoisier, Mark Feldman, Erik Friedlander) by Deborah Feingold, Sylvie Courvoisier and Mary Halvorson by C. Mardok, Pierre Charial punching a barrel organ roll, Five Pieces 1975 (Anthony Braxton, Barry Altschul, Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler) by Bill Smith, Anthony Braxton by Giuseppi Pino, Iannis Xenakis via Les Amis de Xenakis, Sylvie Courvoisier by Harald Krichel, Composition No. 23g by Anthony Braxton, horse bone flute by Matthew Herbert, Conlon Nancarrow punching a player piano roll, Chimaera (Kenny Wollesen, Nate Wooley, Drew Gress, Sylvie Courvoisier, Wadada Leo Smith, Christian Fennesz) by David Breskin
Flotation Device features creative and improvised music from the Northwest and around the world with host Michael Schell, Sunday nights 10pm–Midnight Pacific Time on 91.3 KBCS-FM Bellevue/Seattle/Tacoma. Visit us online at https://www.mixcloud.com/FlotationDevice.