jaw@ames-lm.UUCP (James A. Woods) (05/28/84)
# The present-day composer refuses to die. -- F. Zappa
Frank, of late, has been enamored with namesake Francesco Zappa,
18th century cellist and composer (mostly of string trios.)
The latter-day Frank's wife brought the obscure Francesco Z. to
her husband's attention after thumbing through a music dictionary.
A debut of several "double Zappa" works formed part of a multimedia
event which I caught Sunday, May 20, at the Palace of Fine Arts in S. F.
This included a hybrid classical/rock piece (Op. 1/1, keyed into a
Synclavier and mixed with electric guitar and disco drums.) It's part
of the first 7-record installment (shortly avail. on Angel & Barking Pumpkin)
in his completely remastered 35-disk set.
The premiere included:
(1) a lecture, including comments on the MGM/Johnson administration censoring
of his Verve disks, and a brief discussion of Synclavier (24 voice,
20 MB Winchester) software. Synclavier programs, all concocted by
the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen, include the "retro swapper" and the
"list (Liszt?) twister", available for $800 each. Note for Captain
Beefheart fans: F. Z.'s Synclavier guitar voice is called "Zoot."
(2) a Q & A session, replete with F. Z. pithicisms ("they're only funding
minimal this year", "Nino Rota has that Farfisa sound -- Fellini blew
his chance to collaborate with me"), and observations about the "serious"
vs. "pop" music dichotomy. Having produced in both worlds, the able
F. Z. can equally lambaste the mores of each venue, and certainly
would make short shrift of the netnews discussion re the classiscal split.
His basic refrain, as also told the the American Society of Composers,
is that "serious" music buffs downgrade pop by defining it out of their
existence, but then don't even pay attention to their own stuff in favor
of holding concerts as fluff society events. The rockers don't care
what the "dead people's music" snobs think of them, so there's no
communication all around. [See net.audio for an amusing Zappa story, this
time raining on the parade of music critics and technical "golden ears."]
(3) a play, hilarous and obscene, read by actor Calvin Ahlgren in many
voices (the part of Francesco has a Guido Sarducci accent.)
(4) a dance by a larger-than-life "human puppet," being a sneak preview
of his Berkeley play, also starring conductor Kent Nagano.
The program follows (* denotes world premiere):
- Lumpy Gravy (excerpt, digitally remastered from original)
- Mo 'n Herb's Vacation (first movement, 112-piece orchestra)
[a better mix of the London Symphony recording, trusted to a
wiser engineer; F. Z. admits he can't mix classical recordings
as well as rock]
- Love Story (synclavier)*
- Naval Aviation in Art (chamber ensemble)
- Girl in the Magnesium Dress (synclavier)*
- Jonestown (synclavier)*
[with "Koolaid" metal drums in background]
- While You Were Out (guitar version)
- While You Were Art (ensemble version)
[subject of net.audio article]
Intermission
- Francesco, Op. 1/6 (synclavier)*
- Francesco, Op. 1/11 (synclavier)*
- Francesco, Op. 1/2 (synclavier)*
- Francesco: The Almost Fictional Life of an Obscure Italian Composer
(play by Frank Zappa, read by Calvin Ahlgren)*
- Francesco Rock, Op. 1/1 (synclavier)*
[very bouncy--a nice anthem]
- He's So Gay (dance from the musical, Thingfish)*
- Sinister Footwear (from the forthcoming LP, Them or Us)*
- Truck Driver Divorce (from Them or Us)*
Zappa's "Dupree's Paradise" for triple chamber orchestra, premeried
locally by Jean-Louis LeRoux on May 19, received a negative review from the
Chronicle's Heuwell Tircuit. Zappa himself will be abandoning live orchestral
performances because of the economics involved. His next tour will feature
Napoleon Murphy Brock, Ike Willis, and an R & B band.
-- James A. Woods {dual,hplabs,hao,research}!ames-lm!jaw
P.S.
Along with my estimable collegue and friend Ms McLeod at Ames, I'm putting
in a plug for more concert reviews in these annals. There's lots to
to intellectualize about F. Z., but his low-brow humor and lively banter
can't help but to elicit a visceral reaction. Go see him in your town.