The other minimalists

Started by Lethevich, December 05, 2011, 10:32:58 AM

Previous topic - Next topic

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

torut

Quote from: amw on May 21, 2014, 10:37:19 PM
Re-listened to Canto Ostinato from the Minimal Piano box. I actually really like this piece, hard to express why—something about the continual shifts in harmony, texture and emphasis. It's not the kind of thing I would have expected to like from the premise, and I imagine most people who share my tastes in contemporary music won't like it, but whatever. >.> Doesn't sound like just two pianos playing; I am interested to hear the original, which I believe is for a larger number of pianos (5 or 10?) I was wrong, there's actually no specified instrumentation. I'll definitely try out one of the ones w/electric organ or similar

Quote from: Ken B on May 22, 2014, 08:43:50 AM
E-e-excellent.
There are versions for 4 pianos.
You can sample short (10 minute) sections from other ten Holt multi piano pieces on youtube. I heartily recommend the box on Brilliant.
Also look for the canto and whirling dervish on youtube ... (no joke)

I just started listening to this 12-CD Canto Ostinato set ($8.99 for download). As far as I heard, it is excellent. The set contains versions for solo piano, for 2 pianos, for 4 pianos, for 3 pianos & organ, for organ, for 2 pianos & 2 marimbas, for multi-track marimbas, for 2 prepared pianos (!), and for synthesizers. At this moment, I am listening to the marimbas version, and I love it.

Ten Holt: Canto Ostinato XL, Jeroen van Veen and friends
[asin]B00HE0F88S[/asin]

torut

I listened to all the versions of Canto Ostinato XL set. I was surprised that I didn't get bored or tired of it at all. There might be a common basis that makes Reich's music (particularly Music for 18 Musicians) not boring? The melody of each section is attractive, the transitions between sections are always beautifully done, and there are even moments of climax that are moving. An interesting thing is that performers can repeat each section as many times as they like. I guess that performers' decision would affect whether the music can keep listeners' attention. The performance of Jeroen van Veen & Friends is excellent.

The 1/2/4 piano(s) versions are beautiful. The soft sounds of organ or marimbas fit the music very well. At first, I had reserved feelings about the prepared pianos version and synthesizers version, suspecting that the instruments do not match with the music, but as I kept listening to it, I ended up liking them a lot. Especially, synthesizers versions is very interesting, with many variations of tone colors and sound effects. It's quite different from the simplistic beauty of piano(s) versions.

The 12-CD set was not enough for Jeroen van Veen.
Canto Ostinato XXL (4-CD set), 4 pianos & organ
https://www.youtube.com/v/S4Mwotkkb9M

milk

Quote from: torut on July 21, 2014, 09:58:02 PM
I listened to all the versions of Canto Ostinato XL set. I was surprised that I didn't get bored or tired of it at all. There might be a common basis that makes Reich's music (particularly Music for 18 Musicians) not boring? The melody of each section is attractive, the transitions between sections are always beautifully done, and there are even moments of climax that are moving. An interesting thing is that performers can repeat each section as many times as they like. I guess that performers' decision would affect whether the music can keep listeners' attention. The performance of Jeroen van Veen & Friends is excellent.

The 1/2/4 piano(s) versions are beautiful. The soft sounds of organ or marimbas fit the music very well. At first, I had reserved feelings about the prepared pianos version and synthesizers version, suspecting that the instruments do not match with the music, but as I kept listening to it, I ended up liking them a lot. Especially, synthesizers versions is very interesting, with many variations of tone colors and sound effects. It's quite different from the simplistic beauty of piano(s) versions.

The 12-CD set was not enough for Jeroen van Veen.
Canto Ostinato XXL (4-CD set), 4 pianos & organ
https://www.youtube.com/v/S4Mwotkkb9M
I listened to the two and prepared piano sections today and I was blown away. A few months ago I bought Kees Wieringa & Polo De Haas and was not inspired by it at all (but it may have been me and not them). But the Van Veen so far is fantastic. Actually I was interested in the prepared pianos right away and and just totally hooked on it. I really recommend people check it out. Granted Holt's score is open-ended regarding instruments but this is the first time I've heard of prepared pianos being chosen by performers to interpret a work not specifically for them. I'm in love with it. I don't know how to describe it technically. Maybe it's harmonics and tone. Anyway, it really inspired me.
By the way, I found a John Cage prepared piano app for ipad. It's really fun!

http://johncage.org/cagePiano.html

torut

Quote from: milk on July 22, 2014, 08:23:41 AM
I listened to the two and prepared piano sections today and I was blown away. A few months ago I bought Kees Wieringa & Polo De Haas and was not inspired by it at all (but it may have been me and not them). But the Van Veen so far is fantastic. Actually I was interested in the prepared pianos right away and and just totally hooked on it. I really recommend people check it out. Granted Holt's score is open-ended regarding instruments but this is the first time I've heard of prepared pianos being chosen by performers to interpret a work not specifically for them. I'm in love with it. I don't know how to describe it technically. Maybe it's harmonics and tone. Anyway, it really inspired me.
That is the most unique version I heard. The focus is more on the rhythm and the sound than the melodic sweetness. Although I will probably return to the pianos/marimbas versions more often, that version (and the synthesizers version) revealed another attractive aspects of the piece.

Quote
By the way, I found a John Cage prepared piano app for ipad. It's really fun!

http://johncage.org/cagePiano.html
OT: also, I recommend 4'33" app. I had really interesting experiences with it.

milk

Quote from: torut on July 22, 2014, 08:37:46 PM
That is the most unique version I heard. The focus is more on the rhythm and the sound than the melodic sweetness. Although I will probably return to the pianos/marimbas versions more often, that version (and the synthesizers version) revealed another attractive aspects of the piece.
OT: also, I recommend 4'33" app. I had really interesting experiences with it.
Thanks! Today I enjoyed the synth version very much. I like the 4'33 app. I'd like to get my students more interested in it. It's a cool idea.

torut

I just learned that the piano duo version by Sandra and Jeroen van Veen is the composer's choice.
http://www.jeroenvanveen.com/cd/page35/page35.html
Simeon ten Holt: 'The best recording ever'

The van Veen's web site has photos of the prepared piano used for the Canto Ostinato recording.
http://www.jeroenvanveen.com/cd/page37/page37.html

torut

Marc Mellits - Tight Sweater (2005)
https://www.youtube.com/v/FTVnvY1Q5vc

Marc Mellits - String Quartet No. 2 (2004)
I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf0eJoYeyh8
II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEiP4cuNvh0
III: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25w-OE866dk
IV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F56bGgHso-w

There are strong influences of Reich and Nyman (particularly in SQ No. 2 IV.) Enjoyable.

TheGSMoeller

Quote from: torut on September 26, 2014, 04:10:19 PM
Marc Mellits - Tight Sweater (2005)
https://www.youtube.com/v/FTVnvY1Q5vc

Marc Mellits - String Quartet No. 2 (2004)
I: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf0eJoYeyh8
II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEiP4cuNvh0
III: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25w-OE866dk
IV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F56bGgHso-w

There are strong influences of Reich and Nyman (particularly in SQ No. 2 IV.) Enjoyable.

Very cool, thanks for sharing, torut. I have the disc of Real Quiet performing Tight Sweater, and a few other discs featuring the music of Marc Mellits, some real groovy stuff for sure. I've never heard his String Quartet's before, very enjoyable!

torut

Quote from: TheGSMoeller on September 26, 2014, 05:06:01 PM
Very cool, thanks for sharing, torut. I have the disc of Real Quiet performing Tight Sweater, and a few other discs featuring the music of Marc Mellits, some real groovy stuff for sure. I've never heard his String Quartet's before, very enjoyable!
I agree, TheGSMoeller. As far as I found, his works are very nice. Although I still don't know his music enough to understand the originality, I enjoyed Black (I like bass clarinets duo version), Spam, Broken Glass, etc. Paranoid Cheese is really beautiful.

torut

Youuu + Mee = Weee
Charlemagne Palestine, Rhys Chatham
[asin]B00P8H2GDY[/asin]

I pre-ordered this album (the release date is December 9.) The excerpts sound very nice.

https://soundcloud.com/rhys-chatham/charlemagne-palestine-rhys-chatham-sub-rosa-cd-set-excerpt
https://soundcloud.com/rhys-chatham/charlemagne-palestine-rhys-chatahm-sr-cd2-excerpt

torut

MM/DD​/YY - Selected Music of Kenneth Kirschner / Volume 1-3
https://tokafi.bandcamp.com/album/mm-dd-yy-selected-music-of-kenneth-kirschner-volume-1
https://tokafi.bandcamp.com/album/mm-dd-yy-selected-music-of-kenneth-kirschner-volume-2
https://tokafi.bandcamp.com/album/mm-dd-yy-selected-music-of-kenneth-kirschner-volume-3



These are collections of Kenneth Kirschner's excellent works (available from http://kennethkirschner.com/.) The pieces in volume 1 were selected by tokafi, which are "shorter, more accessible", some of them are quite reminiscent of works of Reich or Feldman. The works in Volume 2 & 3, selected by the composer, are more original and adventurous. I don't know if he is called a minimalist, but I think the works compiled in these volumes are examples of superb minimal music. Every piece is worth listening, imo.

torut

Finally I received my copy of Youuu + Mee = Weeee today (though I pre-ordered it), and now I am listening to the third disc. On disc 1, Palestine strums Bösendorfer piano and Chatham plays long tones on trumpet. Next, Palestine plays continuous chords on Yamaha organ and Chatham strums his guitar. Then, on disc 3, Palestine keeps organ drones and Chatham plays trumpet. The result is amazing. Each combination generates a phenomenal soundscape. A great encounter.

torut

Recently I was very moved by Southam's music. Her works have different aspects, but there is a consistent beauty in them. The Canadian Encyclopedia's article seems a good introduction to her music.

electroacoustic - She abandoned electroacoustic compositions in the 1990s. I have not heard any of them.

minimalism - Glass Houses (piano pieces) and orchestra/chamber works in The Music of Ann Southam display the influences of Riley and Reich. Every piece is very nice.

"lyrical atonal" - Simple Lines of Enquiry and Soundings for a New Piano sound abstract, yet there is a sensitive lyricism within the music. Beautiful.

http://recordings.irritablehedgehog.com/album/ann-southam-soundings-for-a-new-piano
Southam's 1986 "Soundings for a New Piano" is one of many works founded on the composer's everlasting 12-tone row. [...] She subtitles the work "12 meditations on a Twelve Tone Row," and meditations they are. [...] Southam ignores Schoenberg's rules at every opportunity. Notes repeat frequently, and it is only towards the end of many of the movements that the twelve-tone row is fully stated. Hers is serialism through the lens of Philip Glass's technique of additive process, in which each repeating phrase accumulates an extra note or notes.

Simple Lines of Enquiry
[asin]B002YOJC2M[/asin]

Soundings of a New Piano
[asin]B005HP9P6S[/asin]

Glass Houses - The Music of Ann Southam


Sarah Cahill plays Glass Houses No 7
https://www.youtube.com/v/FpceFeyHEd4

San Antone

Phill Niblock turns 82 today. 



Happy Birthday Phill

Phill Niblock is a New York-based minimalist composer and multi-media musician and director of Experimental Intermedia, a foundation born in the flames of 1968's barricade-hopping. He has been a maverick presence on the fringes of the avant garde ever since. In the history books Niblock is the forgotten Minimalist. That's as maybe: no one ever said the history books were infallible anyway.

Bio, news and audio clips can be found here.

milk

I was going to just make a new thread entitled, "minimalism," but then I decided just to go with this one. I do like to see some wide discussion and examples of minimalism.
I might ask: is this a genre? Is it going anywhere? And, isn't glass (no pun) made to be broken?
Anyway, I find this recording to be, well, lovely, vulnerable, fragile...
it's worth a listen if your in that minimalist mood:

Mandryka

#115


Have a listen to the duos on this release, no idea who's playing them.  Duo II is lovely.


https://www.discogs.com/Otomo-Yoshihide-Sachiko-M-Evan-Parker-Tony-Marsh-John-Edwards-John-Butcher-Quintet-Sextet-Duos/release/5760994
Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen

milk

Quote from: Mandryka on April 08, 2021, 12:51:55 AM


Have a listen to the duos on this release, no idea who's playing them.  Duo II is lovely.


https://www.discogs.com/Otomo-Yoshihide-Sachiko-M-Evan-Parker-Tony-Marsh-John-Edwards-John-Butcher-Quintet-Sextet-Duos/release/5760994
Those frequencies are a little rough-going for me. maybe I need to be in a different mood.

Mandryka

Wovon man nicht sprechen kann, darüber muss man schweigen