Liner Notes
Cat. No. NWCRL367
Release Date: 2011-01-15
Karyl Louwenaar, harpsichord; Leigh Howard Stevens, marimba; Phillip Rehfeldt, clarinet; Diane Ragains, soprano; Peter Middleton, flute; David Johnson, percussion; Aventino Calvetti, bass
William Penn writes:
“Fantasy is based on certain basic motives, 'exotic' and newly composed scales, vertical structures (like the 'fantasy' chord), and clusters of various types (fully saturated, gap, pentatonic, and pandiatonic). The linear construction of the piece was partially conceived as an alternation between 'white note' (pandiatonic), 'black note' (pentatonic), and various mixtures of white and black notes. Of the many rhythmic figures that were used, the most notable to me are the straight sixteenths (reminiscent to me of a John Coltrane rhythm solo — a constant perpetual motion), the syncopated 'boogaloo' rhythm, the grace note figurations and the Morse code.
“Four Preludes for solo marimba was written especially for Leigh Howard Stevens as a virtuoso work. Mr. Stevens is one of the few marimbists in the world who concertizes and is also one of the few who has truly mastered four- and six-mallet technique."
Olly Wilson writes:
“As the title implies, Echoes is based on a continuous interaction between the clarinet and the electronic sound source which share common pitches, timbres, and musical gestures, while simultaneously developing a larger musical shape. The work contains three organically related sections which gradually evolve from one to the other in one continuous movement. The tape portion was generated electronically at the University of California, Berkeley, Electronic Music Studio. The output of the clarinet is amplified and mixed with that of the pre-recorded electronic tape which is then projected from multiple speakers placed around the hall.
Russell Peck writes:
“In 1967, at 22 years old, I was very confused about what was modern — Stockhausen, Boulez? ... Beatles and Rhythm and Blues? But I knew what I liked! Ideas of the former, music of the latter.
“In the first movement of Automobile, I postulated a lounge act in the year 2000, when supposedly Stockhausen-Boulez sounds will be in, as Chopin's are today. The soprano sings only one line — “et d'autres, corrompus, riches, et triomphants” — from Correspondences of Baudelaire. The line, describing incense and perfumes, here is a moderno vision of Pop music: corrupt, rich, and triumphant!
“Movement II is a '50s nostalgia number. Indeterminacy and R & B are combined into what George Rochberg called a “Borscht — Circuit Comedy Act.” Players are dealt cards with cues, vamps, monologues, solos and ensembles which interact across a chance grid of accelerating tempi.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Liner notes are accessible via the link above.
William Penn writes:
“Fantasy is based on certain basic motives, 'exotic' and newly composed scales, vertical structures (like the 'fantasy' chord), and clusters of various types (fully saturated, gap, pentatonic, and pandiatonic). The linear construction of the piece was partially conceived as an alternation between 'white note' (pandiatonic), 'black note' (pentatonic), and various mixtures of white and black notes. Of the many rhythmic figures that were used, the most notable to me are the straight sixteenths (reminiscent to me of a John Coltrane rhythm solo — a constant perpetual motion), the syncopated 'boogaloo' rhythm, the grace note figurations and the Morse code.
“Four Preludes for solo marimba was written especially for Leigh Howard Stevens as a virtuoso work. Mr. Stevens is one of the few marimbists in the world who concertizes and is also one of the few who has truly mastered four- and six-mallet technique."
Olly Wilson writes:
“As the title implies, Echoes is based on a continuous interaction between the clarinet and the electronic sound source which share common pitches, timbres, and musical gestures, while simultaneously developing a larger musical shape. The work contains three organically related sections which gradually evolve from one to the other in one continuous movement. The tape portion was generated electronically at the University of California, Berkeley, Electronic Music Studio. The output of the clarinet is amplified and mixed with that of the pre-recorded electronic tape which is then projected from multiple speakers placed around the hall.
Russell Peck writes:
“In 1967, at 22 years old, I was very confused about what was modern — Stockhausen, Boulez? ... Beatles and Rhythm and Blues? But I knew what I liked! Ideas of the former, music of the latter.
“In the first movement of Automobile, I postulated a lounge act in the year 2000, when supposedly Stockhausen-Boulez sounds will be in, as Chopin's are today. The soprano sings only one line — “et d'autres, corrompus, riches, et triomphants” — from Correspondences of Baudelaire. The line, describing incense and perfumes, here is a moderno vision of Pop music: corrupt, rich, and triumphant!
“Movement II is a '50s nostalgia number. Indeterminacy and R & B are combined into what George Rochberg called a “Borscht — Circuit Comedy Act.” Players are dealt cards with cues, vamps, monologues, solos and ensembles which interact across a chance grid of accelerating tempi.
This title, originally issued on the CRI label, is now available as a burn-on-demand CD (CD-R) or download in MP3/320, FLAC or WAV formats. CD-Rs come in a protective sleeve; no print booklet or jewel case included. Liner notes are accessible via the link above.
William Penn, Olly Wilson, Russell Peck
| MP3/320 | $13.00 | |
| FLAC | $13.00 | |
| WAV | $13.00 | |
| CD-R | $13.00 |
A *.pdf of the notes may be accessed here free of charge.
Track Listing
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Fantasy
William Penn
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Four Preludes for Leigh Howard Stevens: Prelude No.1
William Penn
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Buy
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Four Preludes for Leigh Howard Stevens: Prelude No.2
William Penn
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Buy
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Four Preludes for Leigh Howard Stevens: Prelude No.3
William Penn
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Buy
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Four Preludes for Leigh Howard Stevens: Prelude No.4
William Penn
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Buy
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Echoes
Olly Wilson
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Buy
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Automobile: I. Stopp
Russell Peck
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Buy
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Automobile: II. Mobil
Russell Peck
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Buy
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