KPFA-FM Music Dept. ➔ Ode To Gravity: Conlon Nancarrow (Special Edition IV of IV ), 2 of 2

Analog Audio

Event Type

Interview and Music

Origin

KPFA

Identifier

OTG.1987.04.30.B

Program Series

Ode To Gravity

Program Length

120 min

Part

2 of 2

Dates

1987-04-30 | broadcast
| 402 | created

Description

In an interview by Charles Amirkhanian with Conlon Nancarrow at this Mexico City home in 1977, the composer reveals details of his compositions for one or more player pianos including the equipment needed to hand-punch the holes into the piano rolls. Reminiscences of the artists residing in Mexico City from the 1940s on, including Diego Rivera, are recounted. There are recordings of several "Studies for Player Piano" presented, and in one instance, a composition for traditional instruments (String Quartet). Nancarrow prepared a piano roll of the first movement of his “String Quartet” so that he could hear it. On this broadcast, this piano roll is presented followed by a recording of a performance of all three movements of the Quartet played by the Kronos Quartet. This program provides a fascinating look at an artist who discovered a unique medium in which to display his extraordinary compositional skills.

Genres

New music
Mechanical music

Musical Selections

Study No. 35 [excerpt] -- Study No. 27 -- Study No. 21 -- Study No. 40b -- Piece for Tape -- Study No. 49 -- Study No. 20 / Conlon Nancarrow

Subjects

New music
Player piano music
Electronic music

Related places

New York (N.Y.) (was recorded at)
Mexico City (Mexico) (was recorded at)
Berkeley (Calif.) (was broadcast at)

Related Entities

Nancarrow, Conlon, 1912-1997
Amirkhanian, Charles