KPFA-FM Music Dept. ➔ Impact: Innovative Music From the Pacific Coast: Program No. 3: Paul Dresher & the California E.A.R. Unit
Analog Audio
Event Type
Interview and MusicOrigin
KPFAIdentifier
IPC.1988.01.25Program Series
Impact: Innovative Music From the Pacific CoastProgram Length
58 minDates
1988-01-25 | broadcastDescription
Funded by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and distributed via satellite by NPR, the series “Impact: Innovative Music From the Pacific Coast” presents “a wide range of innovative West Coast composers and musicians with original recordings of live performances made at clubs and concert halls in San Francisco and Los Angeles, including on-stage interviews of the artists and discussions and demonstrations of their often unorthodox instrumentation.” Program No. 3 in the four part series, was initially broadcast on January 25, 1988 and featured performances and interviews with Paul Dresher and the California E.A.R. Unit. The first half of the program features a selection of excerpts from “Shelf Life” a collaborative ballet/music theater work by composer Paul Dresher, writer and vocalist Rinde Eckert, and choreographer Margaret Jenkins. The origin of the work came from a class exercise given by Ms. Jenkins in which she encouraged each dancer to design movements based on a character from literature. Rinde Eckert then wrote a narrative that tied together elements from all the books chosen, and Paul Dresher composed the score, which is then performed by his own Ensemble. The later half of the program features two divergent works, performed by the California E.A.R. Unit, a chamber ensemble, specializing in contemporary avant-garde and classical compositions. The first work, “Egyptian Two Step” by the group’s percussionist Arthur Jarvinen, is a playful and inventive piece with an unusual instrumentation that includes harmonica and aerosol cans. The concluding work is “ReSonata” by Rand Steiger, an elegant yet traditional composition for cello and piano.Genres
New musicChamber music
Musical Selections
Shelf Life [excerpt, text by Rinde Eckert] (1987) (5:13) / Paul Dresher -- Shelf Life [excerpt] (4:00) / Paul Dressier -- Shelf Life [excerpt] (14:56) / Paul Dresher -- Egyptian Two Step, for instrumental ensemble (1986) (6:00) / Arthur Jarvinen -- ReSonata, for cello and piano (1985) (7:24) / Rand SteigerPerformers
Paul Dresher Ensemble: (Shelf)Paul Dresher, guitar, electronics, (Shelf)
Rinde Eckert, voice (Shelf)
Gene Reffkin, percussion (Shelf)
California E.A.R. Unit (Egyptian ; ReSonata)
Subjects
New musicBallets
Chamber music
Sonatas (Cello and piano)