Re: Kronos Quartet!

> The Washington Performing Arts Society would like to extend to
> you a special offer of half price tickets to see the Kronos Quartet on
> Saturday, May 22, 5:00 PM at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall.
> Kronos Quartet combines technical virtuosity and passion with a
> unique musical vision. Eclectic, exciting and always entertaining
> performers with a deep sense of commitment to the music they play,
> Kronos' musical legacy may be, in the words of The New York Daily
> News, "...not how they play, but what." This time they're outdoing
> themselves with an exceptional program:
>
> HARRY PARTCH (arr. Ben Johnston): U.S. Highball: A Musical Account
> of Slim's Transcontinental Hobo Trip - with special guest David
> Barron, vocal
> Steve Reich: Triple Quartet - World Premiere!
> Igor Stravinsky (arr. John Geist): The Rite of Spring - with special
> guest Margaret Kampmeier, piano
>
> The Reich piece contrasts two taped quartets with Kronos' live
> playing. This is a rare DC opportunity to witness a world premiere by
> a composer of Reich's stature. The other must-see work is John
> Geist's arrangement of Rite of Spring. Word from San Francisco and
> New York is that the piece, not to mention seeing Kronos accompanied
> by piano, is absolutely incredible. If you haven't heard Partch's
> work, take heed: his compositions capitalize upon Kronos' willingness
> to risk their rare virtuosity in a musical "I dare you to play this"
> fashion.
>
> Call our ticket office and tell them you are a member of the
> tuning onelist and you'll get your Kronos tickets half price!
>
> Our number at WPAS is 202-833-9800. Call soon, this promises to
> be a landmark concert event of 1999.
>
> Tickets (full price): Tickets
> (discounted price):
> Box Tier $37.50 18.75
> Parterre Box $37.50 18.75
> Prime Orchestra $37.50 18.75
> Orchestra $27.50 13.75
> Tier 1 Center $27.50
> 13.75
>
> For accessibility information call WPAS at 202-833-9800
> TDD: 202-467-6922 - www.wpas.org
> Discount is subject to availability. Artist, date and time are subject
> to change.
>
> WPAS is also offering a free, pre-concert lecture, for anyone
> who wants to get the real scoop on the world premiere. Renowned
> Washington-area composer/programmer Alberto Gaitan will offer an
> insightful lecture about the history of the Kronos Quartet and prepare
> you for what you will experience later that afternoon in the Concert
> Hall. Meet us at 3:45 pm in the Kennedy Center Atrium, Terrace level,
> for this exclusive opportunity.
>
> Also, check out the New York Philharmonic on Saturday, June 20,
> 7:00 p.m., at the Kennedy Center Concert hall. The NY Phil will be
> performing Prokofiev -- Symphony no. 1 in D major, Beethhoven --
> Symphony No. 7 in A major, and the Washington premiere of
> Gubaidulina's Double Viola Concerto!

Jeff Hart wrote:

> > If you haven't heard Partch's
> > work, take heed: his compositions capitalize upon Kronos' willingness
> > to risk their rare virtuosity in a musical "I dare you to play this"
> > fashion.

In reality, Kronos is capitalizing on Partch. They were warned
against transcribing Partch for string quartet by musicans
who had worked with Partch when he was still alive.

--
* D a v i d B e a r d s l e y
* xouoxno@virtulink.com
*
* J u x t a p o s i t i o n E z i n e
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* http://www.virtulink.com/immp/lookhere.htm

Hi David

I realize the idea of Kronos playing Partch is a controversial one, and
that Partch never intended for his work to be played by string quartet
but many composers have had their work transcribed in ways that they
found displeasing but I think the very nature of music leaves it open
for interpretation. Also, though I see your point about Kronos
capitalizing on Partch's work, I would say that if they really wanted to
capitalize on someone they would have chosen the work of a composer who
is much more accessible. Thanks for the input, I think it's an
interesting debate and one that I was not aware of until recently.

-Jeff

> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Beardsley [SMTP:xouoxno@home.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 1999 5:20 PM
> To: tuning@onelist.com
> Cc: jhart@wpas.org
> Subject: Re: [tuning] Kronos Quartet!
>
> From: David Beardsley <xouoxno@home.com>
>
> Jeff Hart wrote:
>
> > > If you haven't heard Partch's
> > > work, take heed: his compositions capitalize upon Kronos'
> willingness
> > > to risk their rare virtuosity in a musical "I dare you to play
> this"
> > > fashion.
>
> In reality, Kronos is capitalizing on Partch. They were warned
> against transcribing Partch for string quartet by musicans
> who had worked with Partch when he was still alive.
>
>
> --
> * D a v i d B e a r d s l e y
> * xouoxno@virtulink.com
> *
> * J u x t a p o s i t i o n E z i n e
> * M E L A v i r t u a l d r e a m house monitor
> *
> * http://www.virtulink.com/immp/lookhere.htm
>
>
>
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Jeff Hart wrote:

> From: Jeff Hart <jhart@wpas.org>
>
> Hi David
>
> I realize the idea of Kronos playing Partch is a controversial one, and
> that Partch never intended for his work to be played by string quartet
> but many composers have had their work transcribed in ways that they
> found displeasing but I think the very nature of music leaves it open
> for interpretation.

What "nature of music" leaves the outright butchering of someone else's
work right just because it isn't illegal! If they write something down you
feel you can do what you whatever you want with it!
-- Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island
www.anaphoria.com

Obviously, you are more knowledgeable and attached to Mr. Partch's work
than I could ever intend to be. What I wrote wasn't meant to be
offensive and I do understand the desire to preserve the purity of your
work when you are an artist.

-Jeff

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kraig Grady [SMTP:kraiggrady@anaphoria.com]
> Sent: Thursday, May 13, 1999 12:39 PM
> To: tuning@onelist.com
> Subject: Re: [tuning] Kronos Quartet!
>
> From: Kraig Grady <kraiggrady@anaphoria.com>
>
>
>
> Jeff Hart wrote:
>
> > From: Jeff Hart <jhart@wpas.org>
> >
> > Hi David
> >
> > I realize the idea of Kronos playing Partch is a controversial one,
> and
> > that Partch never intended for his work to be played by string
> quartet
> > but many composers have had their work transcribed in ways that they
> > found displeasing but I think the very nature of music leaves it
> open
> > for interpretation.
>
> What "nature of music" leaves the outright butchering of someone
> else's
> work right just because it isn't illegal! If they write something down
> you
> feel you can do what you whatever you want with it!
> -- Kraig Grady
> North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island
> www.anaphoria.com
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> Congratulations to "Trail Rider," our latest ONElist of the Week.
> http://www.ONElist.com
> Visit our homepage and share with us how ONElist is changing YOUR
> life!
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> --
> You do not need web access to participate. You may subscribe through
> email. Send an empty email to one of these addresses:
> tuning-subscribe@onelist.com - subscribe to the tuning list.
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[Jeff Hart wrote:]
>> I realize the idea of Kronos playing Partch is a controversial one,
>> and that Partch never intended for his work to be played by string
>> quartet but many composers have had their work transcribed in ways
>> that they found displeasing but I think the very nature of music
>> leaves it open for interpretation.

[Kraig Grady wrote:]
> What "nature of music" leaves the outright butchering of someone
> else's work right just because it isn't illegal! If they write
> something down you feel you can do what you whatever you want with
> it!

Kraig, surely you are way too harsh! Unless you've heard the
transcription and find it without merit, I think it is wrong to condemn,
out of hand, the transcription of one artist's creation to another
artist's alternate vision. Everything that every one of us has in
musical talent is as a result of "stealing" the understandings and
creations of people who came before us.

I feel I must strongly oppose a "purist" notion in music. New
variations on another's themes are the backbone of musical creation.
No one has the right to forbid them, and the world is a more barren
place without them.

And if Kronos makes a profit, isn't that ok? Unless they're absolute
hacks in their transcription, which for some reason I don't expect.

JdL

John A. deLaubenfels wrote:

> I feel I must strongly oppose a "purist" notion in music. New
> variations on another's themes are the backbone of musical creation.
> No one has the right to forbid them, and the world is a more barren
> place without them.

Read this:

http://www.virtulink.com/immp/jux/partch03.htm

then check out http://corporeal.com

read it all, read Genesis of a Music by Partch. Hopefully
you'll get it. Read Genesis of a Music two or three times.

> And if Kronos makes a profit, isn't that ok? Unless they're absolute
> hacks in their transcription, which for some reason I don't expect.

Yes. They were hacks.

--
* D a v i d B e a r d s l e y
* xouoxno@virtulink.com
*
* J u x t a p o s i t i o n E z i n e
* M E L A v i r t u a l d r e a m house monitor
*
* http://www.virtulink.com/immp/lookhere.htm

"John A. deLaubenfels" wrote:

> Kraig, surely you are way too harsh!

agreed, I see red sometimes and this subject is probably number 1

> Unless you've heard the
> transcription and find it without merit, I think it is wrong to condemn,
> out of hand, the transcription of one artist's creation to another
> artist's alternate vision.

There is no way you can transcribe this music to string quartet because it
is more than music, it is theater. You might as well have Disney present
Marat/Sade ! This is not the result of anyone's vision, just hard cash

> Everything that every one of us has in
> musical talent is as a result of "stealing" the understandings and
> creations of people who came before us.

Not the undermining

>
> I feel I must strongly oppose a "purist" notion in music.

How about Wagner on Gamelan or Tomita's great versions of the classic.
Would you call these Wagner or Debussy! There is nothing purist about those
who what to decorporealize Partch! I could imagine what the rest of the
concert would be Harry Partch along with all the music he hated, now isn't
that nice!!!!!

> New
> variations on another's themes are the backbone of musical creation.
> No one has the right to forbid them, and the world is a more barren
> place without them.

This is normally done by variations not butchering the original. Go ahead
and do "impressions" of Partch or a homage that's the thing to do! It is
not being presented as a variation.

> And if Kronos makes a profit, isn't that ok? Unless they're absolute
> hacks in their transcription, which for some reason I don't expect.

I hope they make a profit for what they do in general. If nothing else they
have brought to light some outstanding pieces Kevin Volans, Jon Hassell
come to mind. This is their best work and they should keep to it. I
starting to see red now.

-- Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island
www.anaphoria.com

It sounds like I picked a bad example on which to make my plea for
tolerance of "stealing". For some reason, I was under the
misapprehension that the Kronos rendition of Partch was an upcoming
project. If it's out and it's a hack, then it is right to criticize
Kronos.

Also, a clarification on profit. I do support the idea that the
composer who is the genesis of a piece of music should profit from
someone else's rendition later on. Are there issues in this case of
copyrights being violated, etc.?

[David Beardsley, td181.10:]
> Read this: http://www.virtulink.com/immp/jux/partch03.htm
> then check out http://corporeal.com
> read it all, read Genesis of a Music by Partch. Hopefully
> you'll get it. Read Genesis of a Music two or three times.

I will go to the sites, then perhaps I won't be quite so ignorant about
this piece of music!

> Yes. They were hacks.

OK. Blast them, then...

[Kraig Grady, td181.11:]
> "John A. deLaubenfels" wrote:
>> Kraig, surely you are way too harsh!
> agreed, I see red sometimes and this subject is probably number 1.

I was a bit "red" in my response, too. I do understand your outrage if
the piece has been butchered.

>> I feel I must strongly oppose a "purist" notion in music.

> How about Wagner on Gamelan or Tomita's great versions of the classic.
> Would you call these Wagner or Debussy?

Well, I can't visualize how those transcriptions could be done without
being silly parodies, but I wouldn't rule out, out of hand, ANY
particular transcription until I'd heard it.

(Peter Schickele manages to parody music, and musical styles, and yet
at the same time preserve genuine musical energy in his pieces, in my
opinion. Almost anything goes, if it's well done!).

By the way (maybe the answer is in the pages cided by David Beardsley
above), where can I find a Partch-approved rendition of the piece, and
what CD has the Kronos?

JdL

What should have happened:

Kronos should have commisioned some relevant composer (uh...Ben Johnston???)
to write a piece for Kronos and Newband. Newband got
kicked out of their studio and now have to pay big rent
at another place. Besides a proper performance, the instruments
sould get the care they deserve! Put the money in the right place!

US Highball? Maybe there should be a Rite of Spring for one hand piano?
Wagner for rubber band?

--
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* xouoxno@virtulink.com
*
* J u x t a p o s i t i o n E z i n e
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*
* http://www.virtulink.com/immp/lookhere.htm

John A. deLaubenfels wrote:

> By the way (maybe the answer is in the pages cided by David Beardsley
> above), where can I find a Partch-approved rendition of the piece, and
> what CD has the Kronos?

The Kronos version isn't on CD. The Partch version is CRI 752.

--
* D a v i d B e a r d s l e y
* xouoxno@virtulink.com
*
* J u x t a p o s i t i o n E z i n e
* M E L A v i r t u a l d r e a m house monitor
*
* http://www.virtulink.com/immp/lookhere.htm