Flotation Device closes the book on George Crumb (1929–2022) with the premiere release of Kronos-Kryptos, his last composition to be recorded, and his only one for percussion instruments alone. We also honor his works for extended piano, noting their influence on such younger composers as Tan Dun and Augusta Read Thomas. Another nonagenarian composer on the agenda is the Northwest’s own Ken Benshoof, who wrote the first work commissioned by the Kronos Quartet upon their formation in 1973. We also dive into Kate Soper’s latest chamber opera, which reworks the Medieval allegory of the lady and the unicorn, as does an obscure ambient work by Kaija Saariaho. Stockhausen’s Laub und Regen is another unconventional theater piece: a romp in the leaves for clarinet and viola premiered in May 1974. New albums from Matt Mitchell, Anna Webber, Otomo Yoshihide and Mamer bring us to the present day. Creative and improvised music with host Michael Schell.
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Flotation Device 2024-05-05: Annotated playlist by host Michael Schell
Intro and SET 1: State of the art [0:00]
1. [1:31] Otomo Yoshihide: Song for Che ~ Reducing Agent. From Stone Stone Stone (2022, Little Stone Records) with Otomo Yoshihide (guitar), Otomo Yoshihide Special Big Band, Nakamura Shigeki (recording engineer). NOTE: Song for Che composed by Charlie Haden
2. [12:42] Anna Webber: Most Capacious. From Capacious Aeration (Tzadik, 2023) with Anna Webber (flute), Matt Mitchell (piano)
3. [15:12] Mamer: Noxious Weed. From Sleepless (Old Heaven Books, 2024) with Mamer 馬木爾 (acoustic guitar), Lui Ying (recording engineer)
4. [19:26] Ken Benshoof: Traveling Music - 3. Driving. From Kronos Quartet: 25 Years (Nonesuch, 1998) with Kronos Quartet: David Harrington, John Sherba (violins), Hank Dutt (viola), Joan Jeanrenaud (cello), Craig Silvey, Bob Levy (recording engineers). NOTE: Composed 1973
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SET 2: The lady and the unicorn [27:48]
1. [32:07] Marion Brown: Sweet Earth Flying Part 3. From Sweet Earth Flying (Impulse!, 1974) with Marion Brown (alto saxophone), Paul Bley (Fender Rhodes electric piano), Muhal Richard Abrams (ring modulated Hammond organ), James Jefferson (bass), Steve McCall (drums, percussion), Bill Hasson (percussion), Berred Ouellette (recording engineer). NOTE: Recorded May 6–7, 1974 in Boston
2. [38:04] Kate Soper: The Hunt (excerpts). From The Hunt (New Focus, 2024) with Hirona Amamiya (soprano, violin), Christiana Cole (soprano, ukulele), Brett Umlauf (soprano, ukulele), Mila Henry (music director), Ryan Streber (recording engineer)
3. [55:16] Outro with Kaija Saariaho: La Dame à la Licorne. NOTE: The complete piece can be heard at https://tinyurl.com/FD0071
4. [59:31] Karlheinz Stockhausen: Laub und Regen. From Stockhausen Edition 32: Musik Für Klarinette, Bassklarinette und Bassethorn (Stockhausen-Verlag, 1994) with Suzanne Stephens (clarinet), Joachim Krist (viola). NOTE: Composed 1974 as the final part of Herbstmusik, premiered May 4, 1974 at Großer Glockensaal, Bremen, Germany
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SET 3: The last Crumb premiere. NOTE: See https://tinyurl.com/CrumbInRetrospect for more on George Crumb [1:09:55]
1. [1:12:29] George Crumb: Kronos-Kryptos. From George Crumb Edition 21: Kronos-Kryptos (Bridge, 2024) with Curtis Institute of Music Ensemble 20/21: Yoonseo Kang, Tae McLoughlin, Andrew Malonis, Hamza Able, Griffin Harrison (percussion), Drew Schlegel (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2018, revised 2020, premiere recording
SET 4: Crumb and post-Crumb [1:36:11]
1. [1:38:16] George Crumb: Makrokosmos II - 1. Morning Music (Genesis II). From Makrokosmos Vol. II (Odyssey, 1976, reissued 2015 by Sony Classical in Masterworks of the 20th Century) with Robert Miller (amplified piano), Marty Greenblatt (recording engineer)
2. [1:40:47] Charlotte Seither: Itinéraire and Gran passo (excerpts). From Lauschgut: Works for (Inside) Piano (Kairos, 2023) with Clemens Hund-Göschel (piano), Philipp Wisser (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2005–06
3. [1:45:51] Ivan Grebenschikov: State 337. From States (Fancy Music, 2023) with Ivan Grebenschikov (piano, electric piano, whistle, melodica), Alexander Senko (electronics), Vyacheslav Motylev (recording engineer)
4. [1:55:18] Outro with Augusta Read Thomas: Sonorous Earth and Tan Dun: Silk Road
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SET 4: Crumb and post-Crumb [1:36:11]
1. [1:38:16] George Crumb: Makrokosmos II - 1. Morning Music (Genesis II). From Makrokosmos Vol. II (Odyssey, 1976, reissued 2015 by Sony Classical in Masterworks of the 20th Century) with Robert Miller (amplified piano), Marty Greenblatt (recording engineer)
2. [1:40:47] Charlotte Seither: Itinéraire and Gran passo (excerpts). From Lauschgut: Works for (Inside) Piano (Kairos, 2023) with Clemens Hund-Göschel (piano), Philipp Wisser (recording engineer). NOTE: Composed 2005–06
3. [1:45:51] Ivan Grebenschikov: State 337. From States (Fancy Music, 2023) with Ivan Grebenschikov (piano, electric piano, whistle, melodica), Alexander Senko (electronics), Vyacheslav Motylev (recording engineer)
4. [1:55:18] Outro with Augusta Read Thomas: Sonorous Earth and Tan Dun: Silk Road
Photo credits: Matt Mitchell and Anna Webber by Desmond White, The Hunt (Brett Umlauf, Christiana Cole, Hirona Amamiya) by Rob Davidson, Kronos-Kryptos by George Crumb, Kaija Saariaho via the artist, Marion Brown via Discogs, Ken Benshoof and David Harrington via David Harrington, Tan Dun by Dong Hao, Charlotte Seither by Marko Brussmann, Mamer by Zhang Yongyu, George Crumb by Rob Starobin, Ivan Grebenschikov by Petr Pestryaev, Otomo Yoshihide by Hreinn Gudlaugsson, Augusta Read Thomas by Anthony Barlich, Karlheinz Stockhausen via WDR archive