Many works on this album, such as Pulse and Third Construction, anticipate the research into traditional African music by minimalist composers, focusing on polymetric structures, ethnic sounds, and oscillating rhythms.
Performer Biography
Tetraktis, the Italian percussion ensemble performing on this album, has been active for over twenty years and is known for its diverse repertoire spanning classical, jazz, and pop music.
Composer Biography
Edgard Varèse, a French-born composer who took American citizenship, considered percussion his first instrument and even played as a percussionist in an opera orchestra for a short period.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Edgard Varèse believed percussion instruments had greater vitality and variety than other instruments, stating, 'We live in percutant (striking) times. The vibration of the strings is no longer part of my time.'
Recording & Production
For this recording, Varèse's Ionisation, originally for 13 players and around 40 percussion instruments, is performed in an arrangement for 6 percussionists by G. van Gucht.
Historical Context
The compositions on this album were written around the same time Arnold Schoenberg published his essay 'Why No Great American Music?' in 1934, in which he expressed optimism about American music.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The composers on this album, including Cowell, Harrison, Cage, Reich, Chávez, and Varèse, shared an interest in ethnomusicology and rediscovering oral tradition cultures.
