1970s There & Then; Sat 4/2/17, 10:00pm

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The singer composer Julius Eastman (1940 - 90) is probably best remembered as the soloist in PMD's Eight Songs for a Mad King, but he was a prolific composer and his work is gradually being restored to performance. Last year's London Festival of Contemporary Music featured his work, and H&N tomorrow night presents a performance by Apartment House of his 1974 work Femenine. Not strictly speaking the most recent Music, but probably the first chance for many of us (myself included) to hear this piece, descriptions of which sound as if it's a great deal more "cutting edge" (bleeaaccchh!) than, say, much of the stuff that passes for "contemporary" in recent evening broadcasts.

A recent review of the concerts here:

https://johnsonsrambler.wordpress.com/2016/12/19/julius-eastmans-soft-power/

And there's a performance of Frederic Rzewski (b 1938)'s Coming Together from 1971.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08cgvpb

[Richard Barrett]

That's a programme not to be missed I would say.

[Bryn]

I will be listening intently to hear if the reciter in Coming Together gets tongue-tied, as did Fred at the HCMF Hoketus performance broadcast on Radio 3 some decades ago.

[Richard Barrett]

as did Fred at the HCMF Hoketus performance broadcast on Radio 3 some decades ago.

Was that the Round House performance? What I remember happening was that in between phrases he told some people at the front to stop talking.

[Serial_Apologist]

Was that the Round House performance? What I remember happening was that in between phrases he told some people at the front to stop talking.

"I am the very model of a modern major general"?

[Bryn]

Was that the Round House performance? What I remember happening was that in between phrases he told some people at the front to stop talking.

I don't think so. In the case I now have transferred from cassette to CD-R he just got the stage of completeness of the text wrong around half way thorough and had to recover as best he could.

[Sydney Grew]

And there's a performance of Frederic Rzewski (b 1938)'s Coming Together from 1971.

One of those frightful transatlantic show-offs whose principal field of endeavour appears to be the invention of fancy titles. See here, if you do not believe me:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Frederic_Rzewski

A fellow to be avoided, gentlemen.

[Bryn]

One of those frightful transatlantic show-offs whose principal field of endeavour appears to be the invention of fancy titles. See here, if you do not believe me:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Frederic_Rzewski

A fellow to be avoided, gentlemen.

He does have a reputation as a bit of a grump,and he certainly does not suffer fools gladly. Perhaps you have met and that has coloured your opinion of the man. As a pianist, his recording of Stockhausen's Piano Piece X is a true classic. I have always got on well with both the man and his music.

[ahinton]

One of those frightful transatlantic show-offs whose principal field of endeavour appears to be the invention of fancy titles. See here, if you do not believe me:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Frederic_Rzewski

A fellow to be avoided, gentlemen.

Why are you addressing only "gentlemen" here?

By "transatlantic" one presumes you to mean "American", so why not say so?

Who has he "frightened"?
Have you indeed met him? - and did he "frighten" you?

His The People United variations for piano, if a tad overlong and repetitive, is a major contribution to the piano repertoire. Have you heard him play the Hammerklavier Sonata with his own improvised cadenzas? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGyX5W9a_IE - or the Appassionata with the same? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbsRVw5v3Yk . Bizarre in places, perhaps, but by no means without interest...

[Bryn]

Why are you addressing only "gentlemen" here?

His The People United variations for piano, if a tad overlong and repetitive is a major contribution to the piano repertoire. Have you heard him play the Hammerklavier Sonata with his own improvised cadenzas? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGyX5W9a_IE - or the Appassionata with the same? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbsRVw5v3Yk . Bizarre, but not without interest...

I prefer to hear The People United ... extended to include the optional improvised cadenza. Ursula Oppens (no gentleman), who both commissioned it and gave the premier, did not originally take up the option to improvise a cadenza but has more recently given it a go:

[Bryn]

I will be listening intently to hear if the reciter in Coming Together gets tongue-tied, as did Fred at the HCMF Hoketus performance broadcast on Radio 3 some decades ago.

Heh, heh. A bit too ready to be secure at one point. What instrumentation was used for this performance? At times I thought I heard a Sheng (or was it a Melodica?). I liked the attacca into Attica, the applause notwithstanding.

[Richard Barrett]

He does have a reputation as a bit of a grump,and he certainly does not suffer fools gladly. Perhaps you have met and that has coloured your opinion of the man. As a pianist, his recording of Stockhausen's Piano Piece X is a true classic. I have always got on well with both the man and his music.

Me too. The musical world is a better place for his presence and he is excellent company. And I'm reminded that at this time I don't have his Stockhausen recording, and consequently haven't heard it for decades. I must do something about that.

[Boilk]

No comments so far on Julius Estman's Femenine. For 1974 it's a pretty substantial piece of Minimalism I thought.

[ahinton]

Me too. The musical world is a better place for his presence and he is excellent company. And I'm reminded that at this time I don't have his Stockhausen recording, and consequently haven't heard it for decades. I must do something about that.

If you have any difficulty in sourcing a copy, please do not hesitate to let me know as I have the LP and would be happy to send it to you if you would like that.

[MrGongGong]

One of those frightful transatlantic show-offs whose principal field of endeavour appears to be the invention of fancy titles. See here, if you do not believe me:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_compositions_by_Frederic_Rzewski

A fellow to be avoided, gentlemen.

Nonsense
Go for the sheep