Toward the Margins [Limited Edition]

Toward the Margins [Limited Edition]

ASIN: B00004NK9S

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Since the late '60s, British saxophonist Evan Parker has been at the fore of improvised music, a continuously evolving musician who has taken up the challenge of Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane, Cecil Taylor, and Albert Ayler--to find his own musical language and develop the possibilities inherent in free jazz. He's been both a vigorous and inventive tenor saxophonist in myriad groups and an extraordinary soprano soloist, combining circular breathing and several multiphonic techniques to create extended contrapuntal pieces. His Electro-Acoustic Ensemble stands out among his recent projects, as it finds new ways to be beautiful while eroding the boundaries between acoustic and electronic space. It begins with the trio of Parker (on soprano), bassist Barry Guy, and percussionist Paul Lytton, a group that's played together since the '70s, and matches them with three musicians using live electronics and signal processing: Philipp Wachsmann (who adds violin and viola as well), Walter Prati, and Marco Vecchi. The pieces are built on concepts and relationships rather than conventional themes, using the ensemble's resources in a variety of ways, from the full group to soloists with electronics. The three part "Shadow Without an Object," for example, begins with a brisk acoustic-trio improvisation, follows it with a transformation by the three sound processors, then concludes with a segment of both that invites the listener to separate the parts. "The Regenerative Landscape" joins Parker's solo soprano with the electronics to further multiply his technique, introducing some woody, low clarinet sounds into the mix. Throughout these scenes from a mirror world, there are also some beautiful reflections of familiar textures. The virtuoso strings of Guy and Wachsmann suggest a substantial chamber ensemble on "Toward the Margins," while Lytton's enhanced percussion on "Chain of Chance" extends the sonic breadth of John Cage's early work. The full resources of the group achieve a high-speed, chattering brilliance on "Epanados." --Stuart Broomer

Product Description
Evan Parker's Electro-Acoustic Ensemble.

Customer Reviews:

Stokowski in Phase 4 land, Vol. 1.......2006-09-22

Decca has pulled a lot of Stokowski's gaudy Phase 4 recordings off the market so that they can reappear in this box set, but the company had already licensed many out to another label, Cala, that specializes in all things Stokowski. So if you pick and choose, you can buy your favorites recordings individually with a little effort. Of the two volumes in the Original Masters series, this one is the more interesting musically.

For one thing, it features two of the conductor's great strengths: his incomparable Bach transcriptions (no one else performs them with the same total commitment) and his Debussy and Ravel. Admittedly, this La Mer and Daphnis and Chloes have been multi-miked within an inch of their lives, and neither represents Stokowski as wonderuflly as his EMI Debussy collection, but if you love the old magician, you'll love these readings.

Aslo very appealing are the Enigma Variations, which Stokowski recorded only once, and the Franck D minor Sym., though don't expect world-class execution in either case. Stokowski championed early Messiaen in l'Ascension, and here is his last version, along with a swooning and seductive Scriabin Poeme d'Extase.

You have to adore recorded excess to swallow this Symphonie fantastique and Firebird, both gorgeous in a kind of Las Vegas neon billboard sort of way. But for geneations of listeners, that's what Stokowski is all about. What he's not about, sadly, is the wretchedly eccentric and nearly unlistenable Tchaikovsky Fifth Sym., the only performance in this whole set that made me hold my nose.

In all, thee are enough goodie here to justify buying the whole box, unless you want to pick and choose, in which case turn to Cala's excellent reissues.

Stupendous Stokowski.......2004-03-30

This five disc box set featuring the Decca Recordings (1965-72) of conductor Leopold Stokowski is among the latest batch of releases in the limited edition "Original Masters" series. While parts of this particular collection have been available on CD in the past (in the old "Phase 4" and "Weekend Classics" series), some of this material is being made available for the first time internationally. Those performances include Franck's Symphony (Hilversium RPO, 1970), Elgar's Enigma Variations (Czech PO, 1972), Ravel's "Fanfare" (Hilversium, 1970) and Messiaen's "L'Ascension" (London SO, 1970). Other highlights include an entire disc (CD1) of Stokowski's Transcriptions, and a delightful reading of Berlioz's "Symphonie Fantastique" with the New Philharmonia Orchestra from 1968. In all, another great set in the "Original Masters" series.

The Complete Psalms of David (Limited Edition) (Box Set)

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The Complete Psalms of David (Limited Edition) (Box Set)

Manufacturer: Priory Records UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000003WJ3
Release Date: 1996-10-15

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