Charles Amirkhanian Collection ➔ Composer-to-Composer Festival: Day 4 Discussions, John Lifton and Open Discussion (August 18. 1989), 2 of 2
Digital Audio
Event Type
Lectures and Panel DiscussionsOrigin
C AmirkhanianIdentifier
CTC.1989.08.18.1.BProgram Series
Composer-to-Composer FestivalProgram Length
82 min ; 204 totalPart
2 of 2Dates
| broadcast| 1989-08-18 | created
Description
Tape begins with end of the criticism discussion and Charles Amirkhanian explaining the differences between funding sources for radio stations before the composers break.After the break Amirkhanian makes some announcements about upcoming events and introduces the guests in the room; Richard Heyman and Iris Brooks from Ear magazine. After a rundown of some logistics, John Lifton is introduced.
Lifton begins by discussing his background as an architect, and about his early work with computers and plants (green music). He then plays an excerpt of his “Green Music” and explains how it informed his desire to influence the music as a “composer” rather than a scientist or natural artist. Next he plays an excerpt from his opera about Harry Houdini.
He then explains and plays an excerpt from “Neptune Comes to Hopi” (text by Pamela Zoline), and sings his “Love song for unaccompanied Parrot.” He finishes by taking questions from the group.
The composers move on to a general discussion about self expression, the lack of a common language in late 20th century music, issues with identity and expression, and their general experiences at the festival.
Genres
Art songsMusical Selections
Green Music [excerpt] (0:30) -- [excerpt from [from Harry Houdini and the False and True Occult] (1985) (2:56) -- [excerpt from Neptune comes to Hopi] (2:05) -- Love Song for Unaccompanied Parrot [from Harry Houdini and the False and True Occult] (2:40) / John LiftonPerformers
John Lifton, baritone and counter-tenor (Neptune Comes...) ; voice (Love Song...)Subjects
Plants -- Songs and musicElectronic music
Operas
Acknowledgment
Digitized with support from the National Recording Preservation Foundation, The Copland Fund, and the Association for Recorded Sound Collections.Related Event
Composer-to-Composer Festival, 1989Related place
Telluride (Colo.) (was recorded at)Related Entities
Composer-to-Composer FestivalTelluride Institute
Amirkhanian, Charles
Lifton, John
Zoline, Pamela, 1941-