E16: Instrumentals – Arthur Russell pt.4 [excerpt]
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We’re back on the tail of Arthur Russell this week, paying close attention to his piece Instrumentals. A large ensemble composition comprised of multiple musical cells and first premiered at The Kitchen while he was music director, this work expresses Arthur’s proximity to NYC’s post minimalist scene. Jeremy and Tim discuss the works of several of the more prominent composers of that world, including Steve Reich, La Monte Young and Philip Glass, discussing the merits and failures of minimalism and how Arthur’s music aligned and diverged. Elsewhere they spend time on Arthur’s close friend and collaborator Peter Gordon, spend a moment unpacking Postmodernism, attempt to give a very potted account of just and equal temperaments, and give the stage to Memphis rockers Big Star.
Tracklist:
Arthur Russell - Hey! How Does Everybody Know
Captain Beefheart - Dachau Blues
Arthur Russell - Instrumentals (Live at the Kitchen)
La Monte Young - The Well-Tuned Piano
Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians
Henry Flynt & Nova'Billy — Amphetamine Rhapsody