aworks :: "new" american classical music

Rewriting Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony (2006). Michael Gordon

The New York Times contemporary composers blog has resumed with a post by Michael Gordon on his work that uses themes from Beethoven:

Perhaps the most interesting interaction with classical music that I’ve had was a commission from the Beethoven Festival in Bonn, Germany, to write a new piece for orchestra that referenced Beethoven in some way. It was a challenging request and for a while I wasn’t sure how to proceed. In the end, I decided to take one theme from each movement of Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony and work with them as if they were my own.  

Includes a streamed excerpt, although I can't conclude anything on first listen. Via Mark Chan.

Light Is Calling (2004). Michael Gordon

Dexter Gordon is in the news, or more specifically, his Manhattan Symphonie CD. It's on the list of DRM-ed recordings being recalled. My copy has no license agreement or install software but unfortunately, I don't have a working turntable so I haven't heard it in awhile. Speaking of Gordon, here's today's "Gordons" playlist:

• Tinge from Light Is Calling. Michael Gordon
• Just an Ordinary Guy. Ricky Ian Gordon. Kristin Chenoweth
• The Low Quartet. Michael Gordon. Brian Sacawa
• Lullaby in Rhythm. Dexter Gordon
• Horning In. Dexter Gordon
• Sundown. Gordon Lightfoot
• Carefree Highway. Gordon Lightfoot
• Pendulum Music. Steve Reich. Sonic Youth (including Kim Gordon)
• The Duel. Dexter Gordon and Wardell Edwards
• As Time Goes By. Dexter Gordon

Gordons Getty, Mumma, and Harker (he sang in Peter Pan) didn't make the cut.

Pitchfork reviews Light Is Calling:

...an accessible work that remains uncompromising in its subtle complexity and is a truly coherent meeting of styles.  While the album isn't completely consistent, it achieves at its best moments a totally strange and unheard beauty.

tags: dexter gordon dexters gordons lightfoot on wls radio in the 1970s LP nostalgia