The Parker String Quartet and Ian Rosenbaum

Back to the 2014-2015 Greenwood Listening Guide

December 14-21, 2014

Performance at Next Stage on December 20th

The play of tension and release is a vitally important element in our experience of music, and tonality, the hierarchical relationship between pitches or harmonies, is one framework that guides us. Much is asked of an audience experiencing new work with sounds that are less familiar but the ear is quick and can adapt to new sounds when context is there to guide us.

The centerpiece of this residency is a microtonal work by composer James Wood titled “Déploration sur la mort de Gérard Grisey." Microtonal music makes use of intervals smaller than the evenly spaced, Western semi-tone, and is used in wide variety of music; from traditional systems of Indian music and Indonesian gamelan music, to rock and roll and the blues.

The Parker Quartet and Ian Rosenbaum will take us on a sonic adventure that explores the incredible variety of music that can be referred to as “microtonal” and some based on other tonal systems.

Playlist

The following playlist draws from the great variety of music sometimes referred to as "microtonal", and is a summary of the MP3 audio files located at the bottom of this page. Look for additional program notes in the MP3 descriptions.

Jeff Beck (b. 1944), electric guitar
A Day in the Life-Live (Live and Exclusive from the Grammy Museum) (2010)
Over the Rainbow (Emotion and Commotion) (2010)
I Ain’t Superstitous (Beckology) (1991)
Definitely Maybe (The Jeff Beck Group) (1972)
Led Boots (Wired) (1976)

Jon Catler, electric guitar
Sleeping Beauty (2007)
Planet Slicer 1 (2007)
Planet Slicer 2 (2007)

Jonathan Harvey (1939-2012), composer
Mortuos Plango, Vivos Voco (1980)

John Lee Hooker (1917-2001), blues singer, songwriter and guitarist
Boom Boom (1961)

Ben Johnston (b. 1926), composer
String Quartet #5 (1979)

Harry Partch (1901-1974), composer
Delusion of the Fury (1964-6)

Radiohead (1985-)
How to Disappear Completely (2000)

Tan Dun, composer (b. 1957)
Eight Colors for String Quartet (1986-8)

Nicola Vicentino, composer (1511-1572)
Musica prisca caput (1555)

Luciano Berio, composer (1925-2003)
Naturale for viola, percussion, and tape (1985-6)

Texts

John Lee Hooker
Boom Boom
Download a PDF of the song text

Radiohead
How to Disappear Completely
Download a PDF of the song text

Audio

A Day in the Life

Jeff Beck (b. 1944). A Day in the Life (Live) (2010). About Jeff Beck

Over the Rainbow

Jeff Beck (b. 1944). Over the Rainbow (2010).

I Ain't Superstitious

Jeff Beck (b. 1944). I Ain't Superstitious (1991).

Definitely Maybe

Jeff Beck (b. 1944). Definitely Maybe (1972).

Led Boots

Jeff Beck (b. 1944). Led Boots (1976).

Sleeping Beauty

Jon Catler. Sleeping Beauty (2007). Program Note

Planet Slicer 1

Jon Catler. Planet Slicer 1 (2007).

Planet Slicer 2

Jon Catler. Planet Slicer 2 (2007).

Mortuos Plango, Vivos Voco

Jonathan Harvey (1939-2012). Mortuos Plango, Vivos Voco (1980). Program Note

Boom Boom

John Lee Hooker (1917-2001). Boom Boom (1969).

A form of microtone known as the blue note is an integral part of rock music and one of its predecessors, the blues. The blue notes, located on the third, fifth, and seventh notes of a diatonic major scale, are flattened by a variable microtone.

String Quartet No.5

Ben Johnston (b. 1926). String Quartet No.5 (1979). Program Note

Delusion of the Fury, Part I

Harry Partch (1901-1974). Delusion of the Fury, Act I - Treats with Death and with Life Despite Death: A Son in Search of His Father's Face (1964-66). Program Note

Delusion of the Fury, Part II

Harry Partch (1901-1974). Delusion of the Fury, Act I - Treats with Death and with Life Despite Death: Pray for Me (1964-66).

Delusion of the Fury, Part III

Harry Partch (1901-1974). Delusion of the Fury, Act II - Treats with Life and with Life Despite Life: The Host Kid (1964-66).

How to Disappear Completely

Radiohead (1985-). How to Disappear Completely (2000).

The band Radiohead has used microtonal string arrangements in their music, such as on How to Disappear Completely from their album Kid A.

Eight Colors for String Quartet, I.

Tan Dun (b.1957). Eight Colors for String Quartet, I.Peking Opera (1986-8). Program Note

Eight Colors for String Quartet, II.

Tan Dun (b.1957). Eight Colors for String Quartet, II.Shadows (1986-8).

Eight Colors for String Quartet, III.

Tan Dun (b.1957). Eight Colors for String Quartet, III.Pink Actress (1986-8).

Eight Colors for String Quartet, IV.

Tan Dun (b.1957). Eight Colors for String Quartet, IV.Black Dance (1986-8).

Eight Colors for String Quartet, V.

Tan Dun (b.1957). Eight Colors for String Quartet, V.Zen (1986-8).

Eight Colors for String Quartet, VI.

Tan Dun (b.1957). Eight Colors for String Quartet, VI.Drum and Gong (1986-8).

Eight Colors for String Quartet, VII.

Tan Dun (b.1957). Eight Colors for String Quartet, VII.Cloudiness (1986-8).

Eight Colors for String Quartet, VIII.

Tan Dun (b.1957). Eight Colors for String Quartet, VIII.Red Sona (1986-8).

Musica prisca caput

Nicola Vicentino (1511-1572). Musica prisca caput (1555). Program Note

Naturale (Part 1)

Luciano Berio (1925-2003). Naturale for viola, percussion, and tape (1985-6). Part 1. Program Note

Naturale (Part 2)

Luciano Berio (1925-2003). Naturale for viola, percussion, and tape (1985-6). Part 2.