Péter Eötvös

Péter Eötvös is definitely one of the top present day composers/conductors.

FZ invited him to conduct the Ensemble Modern during the recording sessions
of the works of Edgard Varèse for the yet to be released "The Rage and The Fury" album.

After Zappa's death, Eötvös composed a solo percussion piece titled
"Psalm 151 (In Memory of Frank Zappa)."

He conducted (and is going to conduct) the Ensemble Modern in 2000
in several performances of Zappa compositions.


 
Eötvös signed my programme at the 6/8/2000 Munich show.


Psalm 151 was released on CD in 2000.





 


In the booklet, Eötvös and Rácz exchange some words about the piece:

PE: The third piece on the record is Psalm 151, a ritual piece. The notations are not of
a rhythmic character, but are gesture-duration. The strophes played on the bass drum
symbolize earthly suffering, passive, suffered forms of aggressive contact with animal
or human skin, a 'biblical' series of actions, scratching, beating with a bundle of sticks
or a whip. The 'processions' played on the metal instruments symbolize the estab-
lishing of connections, communication with the spiritual world. The piece was written in
memory of Frank Zappa; it is a protestation, a psalm that calls to account, that is why it
was given the number 151.

ZR: Of the three, I feel that Psalm is a 'classic' piece from the performer's point of view,
where there is a musical and a significant scenic task to be fulfilled. How to compen-
sate for the lack of visual experience is a big question. This is a different type of com-
munication, which lacks visualization. Therefore the recording must be much more con-
centrated.

PE: ...and different acoustic circumstances must be created for the listeners, unlike
those they are accustomed to in the concert hall. On this recording, for example, the
close microphone positions produce a sound normally heard by the players, not the
audience, during a concert hall performance. This 'new' sound will probably constitute a
point of special interest for the listeners of the CD.

 More info at http://www.eotvospeter.com


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