Shows, Music for 18 Musicians
Just in case you haven't noticed, the New Orleans Shows sidebar has been updated. I try to update it twice a week - culling from different sources. Actually, a lot of the info comes from NOLA DIY, but since they don't post shows that are at House of Blues, I figure that a little overlap isn't a bad thing. But they have a lot more posted over there, I just sort of selectively choose the stuff that I might want to go to; so if you're looking for a complete list, they're still the better place to go to.
Also, if you know of a show that is coming up, or have a show that you're playing somewhere that you think fits somewhat with the format of this site, let me know and I'll probably post it.
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Other than that, I have very little. I'm still trying to absorb the Nonesuch version of Music for 18 Musicians by Steve Reich. Basically, it's a much more closely-mic'd recording. On the one hand, you can clearly differentiate the instruments, especially the vocals, as opposed to the ECM recording from 1978 (I think...) where everything was much more blended. From what I've read, the difference is that Nonesuch specifically commissioned the 1997 performance for a recording, and so mic'd it differently than the ECM version. In any event, it's more fun to listen to in a lot of ways...having heard the ECM version, it's nice to be able to hear where every sound originates. A lot of the mystery of the piece winds up being lost to clarity, though. What really first struck me about the ECM recording, which was the first one I heard, was the mystery in the seemingly amorphous motion of the sounds. The (what I now recognize as) bass clarinets and cellos literally came out of nowhere and floated down into through the mix. On the Nonesuch version, you can almost hear the breathing of the musicians, it seems, even through the multilayered composition. It's impressive, but ultimately makes the listen much more academic, I think.
I like this version - my ECM recording was flawed and I couldn't play "Section IIIA", so I trashed it in favor of this one. I still maintain, though, that if you're looking to get into this amazing composition for the first time, that the ECM recording is superior.
"Pulses" (the first) at 5:02 remains one of my favorite musical moments ever.
Also, if you know of a show that is coming up, or have a show that you're playing somewhere that you think fits somewhat with the format of this site, let me know and I'll probably post it.
------------
Other than that, I have very little. I'm still trying to absorb the Nonesuch version of Music for 18 Musicians by Steve Reich. Basically, it's a much more closely-mic'd recording. On the one hand, you can clearly differentiate the instruments, especially the vocals, as opposed to the ECM recording from 1978 (I think...) where everything was much more blended. From what I've read, the difference is that Nonesuch specifically commissioned the 1997 performance for a recording, and so mic'd it differently than the ECM version. In any event, it's more fun to listen to in a lot of ways...having heard the ECM version, it's nice to be able to hear where every sound originates. A lot of the mystery of the piece winds up being lost to clarity, though. What really first struck me about the ECM recording, which was the first one I heard, was the mystery in the seemingly amorphous motion of the sounds. The (what I now recognize as) bass clarinets and cellos literally came out of nowhere and floated down into through the mix. On the Nonesuch version, you can almost hear the breathing of the musicians, it seems, even through the multilayered composition. It's impressive, but ultimately makes the listen much more academic, I think.
I like this version - my ECM recording was flawed and I couldn't play "Section IIIA", so I trashed it in favor of this one. I still maintain, though, that if you're looking to get into this amazing composition for the first time, that the ECM recording is superior.
"Pulses" (the first) at 5:02 remains one of my favorite musical moments ever.
posted by P at 5:49 PM
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