The Wanderer
PAULINE OLIVEROS
The Wanderer
Boomkat Product Review:
Another phenomenal Pauline Oliveros re-issue from Important Records, 'The Wanderer' originally surfaced back in 1984 and is a collection of her seminal accordion work and a companion record to the hugely influential 'Accordion & Voice'. The first piece here is a peculiar meditation in restrained playing and silence, sounds emerge from the instruments and then drop into nothingness just as quickly as they had arrived. It's strange but you begin to sink deeper and deeper into the quality of the room, the recording itself as you hear the two musicians (Oliveros is joined by bandolion player David Tudor) shuffling in their chairs and pressing their fingers against the keys. The second piece is the title track and arguably the reason the album is so important ' this was a piece of music written for the Springfield Accordion Orchestra under the guidance of conductor Sam Falcetti, and with Oliveros as soloist the orchestra bravely attempts to guide the piece through two distinct movements. The first is an exploration of long reed sounds and comes very close to the droning electronic pieces we might expect from Oliveros' early work, and then the second goes into much wilder territory with rhythms taking us through a veritable world of music. The disc ends on a much sought-after four piece rendition of Oliveros' much loved piece 'Horse Sings from Cloud' (which features in solo form on 'Accordion & Voice') which I've never managed to hear before. Hearing it played in this way is startling as it gives it a totally different character ' it's not necessarily better than the original per se, but it's different and just as rewarding. A stunning picture of one of the most important figures in 20th century experimental music.
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Boomkat Product Review:
Another phenomenal Pauline Oliveros re-issue from Important Records, 'The Wanderer' originally surfaced back in 1984 and is a collection of her seminal accordion work and a companion record to the hugely influential 'Accordion & Voice'. The first piece here is a peculiar meditation in restrained playing and silence, sounds emerge from the instruments and then drop into nothingness just as quickly as they had arrived. It's strange but you begin to sink deeper and deeper into the quality of the room, the recording itself as you hear the two musicians (Oliveros is joined by bandolion player David Tudor) shuffling in their chairs and pressing their fingers against the keys. The second piece is the title track and arguably the reason the album is so important ' this was a piece of music written for the Springfield Accordion Orchestra under the guidance of conductor Sam Falcetti, and with Oliveros as soloist the orchestra bravely attempts to guide the piece through two distinct movements. The first is an exploration of long reed sounds and comes very close to the droning electronic pieces we might expect from Oliveros' early work, and then the second goes into much wilder territory with rhythms taking us through a veritable world of music. The disc ends on a much sought-after four piece rendition of Oliveros' much loved piece 'Horse Sings from Cloud' (which features in solo form on 'Accordion & Voice') which I've never managed to hear before. Hearing it played in this way is startling as it gives it a totally different character ' it's not necessarily better than the original per se, but it's different and just as rewarding. A stunning picture of one of the most important figures in 20th century experimental music.
Boomkat Product Review:
Another phenomenal Pauline Oliveros re-issue from Important Records, 'The Wanderer' originally surfaced back in 1984 and is a collection of her seminal accordion work and a companion record to the hugely influential 'Accordion & Voice'. The first piece here is a peculiar meditation in restrained playing and silence, sounds emerge from the instruments and then drop into nothingness just as quickly as they had arrived. It's strange but you begin to sink deeper and deeper into the quality of the room, the recording itself as you hear the two musicians (Oliveros is joined by bandolion player David Tudor) shuffling in their chairs and pressing their fingers against the keys. The second piece is the title track and arguably the reason the album is so important ' this was a piece of music written for the Springfield Accordion Orchestra under the guidance of conductor Sam Falcetti, and with Oliveros as soloist the orchestra bravely attempts to guide the piece through two distinct movements. The first is an exploration of long reed sounds and comes very close to the droning electronic pieces we might expect from Oliveros' early work, and then the second goes into much wilder territory with rhythms taking us through a veritable world of music. The disc ends on a much sought-after four piece rendition of Oliveros' much loved piece 'Horse Sings from Cloud' (which features in solo form on 'Accordion & Voice') which I've never managed to hear before. Hearing it played in this way is startling as it gives it a totally different character ' it's not necessarily better than the original per se, but it's different and just as rewarding. A stunning picture of one of the most important figures in 20th century experimental music.
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