Georg Friedrich Haas’s Second Violin Concerto takes the spotlight, as we contrast its visceral microtonality to the whispery shimmers of Osvaldo Coluccino’s and the committed austerity of Younghi Pagh-Paan (for her 80th birthday). Plus John Zorn channels his inner Coltrane in a duet with Dave Lombardo, while Stefano Gervasoni and Nina C. Young send prerecorded memories through loudspeakers attached to musical instruments. Brandon Ross and Stomu Takeishi reconvene for their first duet album in a decade, while Laetitia Sonami recalls her pioneering live electronic performances in a new retrospective. Raven Chacon joins with John Dieterich and Marshall Trammell for a strange blend of rock, free improv and loop music. We continue our walk down Frederic Rzewski’s The Road in its first complete recording, while honoring the 50th anniversary of Scelsi’s piano suite Ttai, whose obsession with individual sounds we’ll relate to Andrew McIntosh’s new portrait album Fixations.
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Photo credits: Stefano Gervasoni via the artist, Younghi Pagh-Paan by Astrid Ackermann, Laetitia Sonami via the artist, Miranda Cuckson and Georg Friedrich Haas by Gene Gaudette, Andrew McIntosh via the artist, Osvaldo Coluccino in Rosetta Berardi: Intreccio, Raven Chacon by Adam Conte, Giacinto Scelsi via Wikimedia Commons, Brandon Ross via 27 East, Nina C. Young via the artist, John Zorn and Dave Lombardo via DiegoMH2002, Frederic Rzewski by Michael Wilson.
Flotation Device 2025-11-30: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell - Part 1
Intro and SET 1: Back on the road [0:00]
1. [1:31] John Zorn, Dave Lombardo: Hail and Thunder. From Memories, Dreams, And Reflections (Tzadik, 2025) with John Zorn (alto sax), Dave Lombardo (drums), James Dellatacoma (recording engineer, Orange Studios
2. [6:43] Andrew McIntosh: Fixations for string octet - 2. Melody (viola). From Fixations (Kairos, 2025) with Wild Up: Mona Tian, Violet Tang, Caitlin Kelley, Andrew Tholl (violins), Linnea Powell, Andrew McIntosh (violas), Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick, Derek Stein (cello), Christopher Rountree (conductor), Lewis Pesacov, Clinton Welander (recording engineers)
3. [11:20] Laetitia Sonami: Conversation with a Light Bulb. From Dangerous Women: Early Works 1985–2005 (Lovely Music, 2025) with Laetitia Sonami (lady's glove, Max software). NOTE: Composed 2000, first recording
4. [18:57] Frederic Rzewski: The Road - Part 4: Stops (excerpts). From The Road (Passacaille, 2025) with Daan Vandewalle (piano), Yannick Willox (recording engineer, Acoustic Recording Service). NOTE: Composed 1995–2003. First complete recording
SET 2: Pagh-Paan at 80 [25:21]
1. [30:31] Giacinto Scelsi: Suite No. 9 (Ttai) for solo piano - Movements 1 and 5. From Opere Per Pianoforte (Tactus, 2017) with Rossella Spinosa (piano), Andrea Pestarino (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 1952, premiered November 30, 1975 in Rome by Frederic Rzewski
2. [38:29] Osvaldo Coluccino: Traspare assente albore, Dal nero immenso lèvita (excerpts). From Rispecchiato in quarzo (Kairos, 2025) with Carl Rosman (contrabass clarinet), Daniel Agi (bass flute, recording engineer), Osvaldo Coluccino (electronics)
3. [43:08] Younghi Pagh-Paan: Vide Domine, vide afflictionem nostram. From Via Crucis (Neos, 2009) with Benita Borbonus (soprano), Andrea Weight (soprano), Markus Francke (tenor), Hee-Kwang Lee (bass), WDR Rundfunkchor Köln, Rupert Huber (conductor). NOTE: Composed 2007
4. [57:07] Outro with Younghi Pagh-Paan: Klangsäulen
5. [1:00:39] For Living Lovers: Hammer. From Natural Name (Sunnyside, 2025) with Brandon Ross (acoustic guitar, soprano guitar, banjo, vocals), Stomu Takeishi (acoustic bass guitar). NOTE: Composition by Brandon Ross
Flotation Device 2025-11-30: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell - Part 2
SET 3: Haas [1:05:00]
1. [1:06:37] Georg Friedrich Haas: Violin Concerto No. 2 (excerpts). From Violin Concerto No. 2, de terrae fine (Urlicht Audio Visual, 2025) with Miranda Cuckson (violin), ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra, Markus Poschner (conductor), Erich Hofmann (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2017, premiere recording
SET 4: Freeform freakouts [1:26:04]
1. [1:29:00] Endlings: Pre-Bird, Unwritten. From Human Form (Whited Sepulchre, 2021) with Raven Chacon (voice, electronics, guitar, keyboard, violin, saxophone, ocarina), John Dieterich (voice, electronics, guitar, keyboard, bass, drums [Indictor])
2. [1:32:59] Endlings: Frágil. From Human Form (as above) with Raven Chacon, John Dieterich (as above), Marshall Trammell (drums)
3. [1:34:43] Heinz Holliger: Drei kleine Szenen - 1. Ciacconina. From Ciaccona (BIS, 2021) with Ilya Gringolts (violin), Andreas Werner (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2014
4. [1:38:20] Nina C. Young: Heart.throb. From Unsnared Drum (New Focus, 2021) with Michael Compitello (snare drum), Ryan Streber (recording engineer, Oktaven Audio)
5. [1:49:39] Stefano Gervasoni: Altra voce, omaggio a Robert Schumann (excerpts). From Muro di canti (Kairos, 2021) with Monica Bacelli (mezzo-soprano), Aldo Orvieto (piano), Alvise Vidolin (live electronics, sound direction). NOTE: Composed 2015–17
6. [1:56:58] Outro with Endlings: Save and Hold Fantasy Threats