KPFA-FM Music Dept. ➔ Ode To Gravity: The Eventide Harmonizer and Henry Kaiser, 1 of 2

Analog Audio

Event Type

Interview and Music

Origin

KPFA

Identifier

OTG.1981.09.14.c1.A

Program Series

Ode To Gravity

Program Length

112 min

Part

1 of 2

Dates

1981-09-14 | broadcast
| 1981-09-14 | created

Description

From a program recorded on September 14, 1981, Charles Amirkhanian gets a demonstration of the Eventide Clockworks Harmonizer from Laurie Anderson. The Harmonizer is the piece of equipment that Anderson has used, with such great effect, to lower the pitch of her voice in real time, during her concerts. Amirkhanian then interviews Richard Factor, the co-inventor of this ingenious device, in his busy New York City office. Amirkhanian also presents brief interviews with Margaret Jory, Director of the American Music Center, the United States’ official information center and repository for contemporary classical music; and with Phill Niblock, composer and director of the Experimental Intermedia Foundation, and who was preparing to broadcast his, “Concerts for Composers,” a collection of live performances recorded in Niblock’s New York City loft. Interspersed among these interviews are engaging musical interludes from Anderson, Philip Glass, Stephan Von Huene, and Meredith Monk. Henry Kaiser then joins Charles Amirkhanian in the KPFA studio for the second half of the program. Kaiser's introduces "The Shadow Line" and other selections from his album "Aloha" on Metalanguage Records. The two discuss Kaiser's album, his approach to the guitar and use of electronics, free music vs. free improvisation, and their gripes with the digital technology of the early 1980s. Kaiser also explains how Derek Bailey, Korean music, and the Blues influenced some of his playing.

Genres

Electro-Acoustic / Electronic
New music

Musical Selections

The Language Of The Future (ca. 1983) (7:03) / Laurie Anderson -- Victor’s Lament [from “North Star” the film score for “Mark Di Suvero, Sculptor”] (ca. 1977) (3:34) / Philip Glass -- Washboard Band [a sound sculpture] (1967) (3:10) / Stephan Von Huene -- Rally, for 25 voices [from the opera “Quarry”] (1976) (3:25) / Meredith Monk -- Procession, for voice and piano [from the opera “Quarry”] (1976) (7:40) / Meredith Monk -- The Invisible Hand (ca. 1981) (2:32) / Henry Kaiser

Performers

Laurie Anderson, voice and electronics (Language)
Philip Glass, electronic keyboards (Victor’s)
Dickie Landry, saxophone (Victor’s)
Meredith Monk, voice (Procession)

Subjects

Electronic music
New music
Monologues with music (Electronics)
Performance art
Electronic musical instruments
Motion picture music
Sound sculpture
Choruses, Unaccompanied
Vocalises
Songs with piano
Operas -- Excerpts
Jazz

Acknowledgment

Funding for the preservation of this program made possible through a grant by the National Endowment for the Arts.

Related places

Berkeley (Calif.) (was recorded at)
Berkeley (Calif.) (was broadcast at)

Related Entities

Amirkhanian, Charles
Anderson, Laurie, 1947-
Factor, Richard
Glass, Philip
Landry, Richard
Jory, Margaret
Huene, Stephan von, 1932-2000
Monk, Meredith
Niblock, Phill, 1933-