Monday, July 27, 2009

Merce Cunningham, and other portraits

Merce Cunningham dies, three weeks short of 80 years after the
death of Sergei Diaghilev: two giants of the theatre/dance world.






A selection of Gordon Mumma's duo photo-portraits:













Duets of dear friends:






Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Recent Premieres, subsequent performances

CONSTRUCTION 4 HANDS
Piano 4-hands (2012), duration: 3'00

premiere:
Daan Vandewalle and Gordon Mumma
2012 March 23, MaerzMusik,
Berliner Festspiele, Germany



ABRUPTED EDGES, for Alvin Lucier
-- a diamond among -- (2011)
String quartet and piano. duration: 10 min.

premiere:
West End String Quartet // Neely Bruce, piano
2011 Nov 6, Crowell Concert Hall,
Wesleyan Univ., Middletown CT



COMITATUS 2 (2009)
Violin and Piano, duration: 5 min.

premiere:
Conrad Harris, violin // Daan Vandewalle, piano
2011 Aug 30, Ostrava Festival, Czech Republic








TAPIZDOS (2008)
piano 4-hands double-mobile,
from a construction set
of multiple sections.
duration: 5 min.
premiere:
Daan Vandewalle and Gordon Mumma
2008 Mar 14, La Casa Encendida, Madrid, Spain



GAMBRELED TAPESTRY (2007)
a construction set for solo piano with
possible internal electronic resonances
duration: circa 6 minutes

premiere:
Gordon Mumma, piano & electronics
2007 Nov 19, Cunningham Dance Studio, New York City

subsequent performances:
Gordon Mumma, piano & electronics
2008 Mar 14, La Casa Encendida, Madrid, Spain

Gordon Mumma, piano & electronics
2008 Mar 29, College of Santa Fe, New Mexico

Gordon Mumma, piano & electronics
2010 Nov 4, Rackham Aud. Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor



FROM THE RENDITION SERIES (2006)
a construction set of 8 ex STREAMS
for piano solo with internal electronics.
duration: circa 20 minutes

premiere:
Tomoko Mukaiyama, piano // Gordon Mumma, live-electronics
2006 Nov.18, Novembermusic, Verkadefabrick,
Den Bosch, Netherlands
recording: November Music CD 2006 (track 7)

subsequent performances:
Mukaiyama and Mumma, 2006 Nov. 21,
Gaudeamus Festival, Muziekgebouw,
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Mukaiyama and Mumma, 2006 Dec 3
Dutch Television VPRO vrije-geluiden,
with two ex STREAMS and interview

Jee Yeon Ryu, piano // Gordon Mumma, live-electronics
2007 Nov 8, Univ. of Victoria, British Columbia

Jenny Lin, piano // Gordon Mumma, live-electronics
2007 Nov 19, Cunningham Dance Studio, New York City

Jee Yeon Ryu, piano // Gordon Mumma, live-electronics
2008 Jan 27, Victoria Conservatory of Music, British Columbia
( recording forthcoming )

Yvonne Lee, piano // Gordon Mumma, live-electronics
2008 Apr 1, Keller Hall, Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque



YAWAWOT (2003)
violin solo with electro-acoustical sound-scape

premiere:
Conrad Harris, violinist
2004 March 18, Merkin Concert Hall, New York City

subsequent performance:
Conrad Harris, violinist
2007 Nov 19, Cunningham Dance Studio, New York City



ORAIT (1987)
Vocal ensemble and body percussion
with Melanesian Pidgin Text from Gregory Bateson.

subsequent performance:
Univ. of Victoria Chamber Singers,
Christopher Butterfield, cond.
2005 Nov 4, P.T.Young Recital Hall, Univ. of Victoria, B.C. Canada

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Mumma as performer in recordings of other composer's music, in alphabetical order by composer/composition




Robert Ashley &
Gordon Mumma
ONCE Festival,
1964 February



Ashley, Robert
DETAILS (2b) (1962)
Robert Ashley and Gordon Mumma, pianists.
New World Records, NWR 80567-2, (CD #1)

QUARTET (1965)
ONCE Festival Chamber Orchestra (Mumma, horn)
New World Records NWR 80567-2, (CD #5)


Behrman, David
PLAYERS WITH CIRCUITS (1966)
David Behrman and Gordon Mumma
Alga Marghen CD SNMH 020

RUN-THROUGH (1967-68)
David Behrman and Gordon Mumma
Alga Marghen CD SNMH 020

WAVE TRAIN (1966)
David Behrman and Gordon Mumma,
Alga Marghen CD SNMH 020


Cacioppo, George
ADVANCE OF THE FUNGI (1964)
ONCE Festival Orchestra (Mumma, horn)
New World Records NWR 80567-2 (CD # 4)

BESTIARY I: EINGANG (1961)
ONCE Festival Chamber Orchestra (Mumma, percussion)
New World Records NWR 80567-2 (CD # 2)

CASSIOPEIA (1962)
Robert Ashley and Gordon Mumma, pianists
Advance LP FGR # 5 (Side A, track 3)

TIME ON TIME IN MIRACLES (1964)
ONCE Festival Chamber Orchestra (Mumma, horn)
Advance LP FGR # 5 (Side B, track 2)


Cage, John
SOLOS FOR VOICE 2 (1960)
Live-electronics (Gordon Mumma and David Tudor),
Brandeis Chamber Chorus, Alvin Lucier, cond.
CBS Odyssey LP 32 160159 (Side A, track 3)

MUSIC FOR 17 (1985)
San Francisco Contemporary Music Players (Mumma, horn)
Newport CD NPD 35547


Kagel, Mauricio
IMPROVISATION AJOUTéE (1962)
David Tudor, organ; Alvin Lucier, Gordon Mumma,
and Michael Sahl: organ registrants
CBS-Odyssey LP 32 16 0158, (Track 1)


Scavarda, Donald
SOUNDS FOR ELEVEN (1961)
ONCE Festival Chamber Orchestra (Mumma, percussion)
New World Records NWR 80567-2 CD # 2


Tialleferre, Germaine
CHASONS FRANCAISES: JEAN DELA RÉOLE (1929)
Santa Cruz Chamber Orch. (Mumma, horn)
Nicole Paiment, cond.
Intrada CD 11 58582


Wise, Bruce
MUSIC FOR THREE (1963)
Robert Ashley and Gordon Mumma, pianists
New World Records NWR 80567-2 CD # 5


Wolff, Christian
BURDOCKS (1971) ( rec: 1971 )
Behrman, Mumma (horn), Nash, Rzewski, Tudor, Wolff
Wergo LP 60063 (Side B)

BURDOCKS (1971) ( rec. 2000 )
Frith, Jeanrenaud, Masaoka, Mumma (horn, cornet),
Ostertag, Winant, Wolff
Tzadik CD TZ 7071

Sunday, June 7, 2009

SELECTED RECORDINGS (composition chronology)

SINFONIA FOR 12 INSTRUMENTS & MAGNETIC TAPE (1958-60) 12'03
ONCE Festival Chamber Orchestra, Wayne Dunlap, cond.
( premiere performance, rec: 1961 Mar. 4 )
New World Records NWR 5-CD-set # 80567-2 (CD # 1)

from GESTURES II (1958-60) (four sections) 13'14
( ONCE Festival premiere, 1962 Feb. 16 )
Robert Ashley & Gordon Mumma, pianists
New World Records NWR 5-CD-set # 80567-2 (CD # 2)

from GESTURES II (1958-60) (two sections) 1'20
Gordon Mumma & David Tudor, pianists
(rec: Boulder, Colorado, 1968 July)
New World Records NWR CD # 80651-2

MEANWHILE, A TWOPIECE (1961) 7'16
( ONCE Festival premiere, 1962 Feb. 10 )
Robert Ashley, piano & percussion; Gordon Mumma, horn & percussion
New World Records NWR 5-CD-set # 80567-2 (CD # 3)

LARGE SIZE MOGRAPH 1962 8'09
[1] Larry Leitch, piano ( ONCE Concert premiere, 1962 Dec. 16 )
New World Records NWR 5-CD-set # 80567-2 (CD # 3)
[2] Daan Vandewalle, piano NWR/HR2 # 80868-2 (2-CD set)

from MOGRAPHS (1962-64) 9'30
Gordon Mumma & David Tudor, pianists
New World Records NWR CD # 80651-2

A QUARTER OF FOURPIECE (1962) 4'56
The Hartt Chamber Players
( ONCE Festival performance, 1963 Jan. 30 )
New World Records NWR 5-CD-set # 80567-2 (CD # 2)

MEGATON FOR WM.BURROUGHS (1963) 22'35
( ONCE Group premiere, 1964 Feb. 28 )
Lovely Music LP VR 1091 (stereo LP- disk)
New World Records NWR CD # 80632-2 )

MEDIUM SIZE MOGRAPH 1963 8'40 piano 4-hands with cybersonics
Robert Ashley and Gordon Mumma, pianists
( ONCE Festival performance, Feb. 1965 )
Tzadik CD # 7074

GREYS (1963) 3'19 stereo electronic music for
Donald Scavarda 's film/score GREYS
New World Records NWR 5-CD-set # 80567-2 (CD # 3)

MUSIC FROM THE VENEZIA SPACE THEATRE (1964) 11'55
quadraphonic electroacoustic music
Advance FGR-5 (monaural LP-disk)
Lovely Music LP VR # 1091 (stereo LP-disk)
Lovely Music CD # 1093

PEASANT BOY (1964) 8’54
collaborative music with the Bob James Trio
ESP-DISK # 1009, Side B track 1 (stereo LP-disk),
ESP CD # 1009-2, track 4

THE DRESDEN INTERLEAF 13 FEBRUARY 1945
(1965) 12'34
quadraphonic electroacoustic music
( ONCE Festival premiere, 1965 Feb 13 )
JME-1 (Argentina) (monaural LP-disk)
Lovely Music VR # 1091 (stereo LP- disk)
Lovely Music CD # 1093

HORN (1965) 9'34 live-performance cybersonic music
( rec: 1965 April )
Gordon Mumma, horn, Robert Ashley & George Cacioppo, voices;
William Ribbens, cybersonics
Tzadik CD # 7074

MESA (1966) 22'45
David Tudor, bandoneon; Gordon Mumma, cybersonics
CBS Odyssey # 3216-0158, CBS-France # S-346-0165
(stereo LP disk-recordings)
Lovely Music VR-1092 (direct-metal-master LP-disk)
Tzadik CD # 7074.
Live performance with the Cunningham Dance Co. PLACE
1966 Nov 9, Theatre des Champs-Elysees, Paris 19'35
NWR Music for Merce 10-CD set # 80712-2, disk 2

HORNPIPE (1967) 15'16 live-performance cybersonic music
Gordon Mumma, waldhorn, valve-horn, reed-horn, with cybersonics
Tzadik CD # 7074

CONSPIRACY 8 (1970) 19'00 live-computer,
acoustical instruments, cybersonics ( rec: 1970 Feb 20 )
Composition/performance collaboration with Stephen Smoliar,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
New World Records CD # 80632-2

SCHOOLWORK (1970) variable duration
music for folkloric instruments
[1] Ned Sublette, melodica; Joe Hannan, bowed psaltery;
Gordon Mumma, crosscut saw 8'58
( Live performance rec: 1979, The Kitchen, NYC.)
Orange Mountain Music CD # 0015#1
[2] David Behrman, bowed psaltery; Katherine Morton, melodica;
Gordon Mumma, saw 13'15 ( rec: 1972, Stockholm, Sweden )
Slowscan Vol. 9 (stereo analog-cassette)

TELEPOS (1972) 18'34
Live performance with the Cunningham Dance Co. TV-RERUN
1972 Sep 12, Theatre des Champs-Elysees, Paris
NWR Music for Merce 10-CD set # 80712-2, disk 3

CYBERSONIC CANTILEVERS (1973) 19'15
live-electronic music with public participation
Folkways LP FTS 33904 (abridged to 10'10, stereo LP-disk)
New World Records CD # 80632-2 (complete)

11 NOTE PIECES AND DECIMAL PASSACAGLIA (1970s) 7'40
[1] Linda Burman-Hall, solo harpsichord, with
OCTAL WALTZ (1980) 1'16
Musical Heritage Society CD # 513988A
[2] Gordon Mumma, solo harpsichord 7'15
Slowscan Vol. 9 (stereo analog-cassette)

ECHO-D (1978) 14'49 stereo electroacoustic music
Slowscan Vol. 9 (stereo analog-cassette)
Lovely Music CD # 1093

FWYYN (1979) 5'05 live-performance bandoneon duo
Composition/performance collaboration with Pauline Oliveros,
California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, 1980 Mar 4.
Lovely Music VR-1092 (direct-metal-master LP-disk)

PONTPOINT (1966-1980) 15'45 binaural electroacoustic music
Lovely Music VR # 1092 (direct-metal-master LP-disk)
Lovely Music CD # 1093

CIRQUALZ (1980) 5'39 stereo electronic acoustical cinema
New World Records CD # 80632-2

RETROSPECT (1959-82) 10'21 stereo electroacoustic music
Lovely Music CD # 1093

STRESSED SPACE PALINDROMES (1976-82) 6'55
stereo electronic music
Brain In The Wire CD # 004B (in 3-CD-set) (London, U.K.)

EPIFONT (1984) 4'30 stereo electroacoustic music
( in memoriam George Cacioppo )
Lovely Music CD # 1093

from FAISANDAGE ET GALIMAFRéE (1984) 7'10
Fanfare, March-Waltz, Hommage, Scherzo ( trios-divertimenti )
Leta Miller, flute, with Ensemble Nova, California
OPUS-1 #129-A (stereo LP-disk)

THAN PARTICLE (1985) 10'22 live-acoustical and
synthesized percussion
William Winant, percussion;
Gordon Mumma, computer synthesized percussion
Tzadik CD # 7074

FROM THE RENDITION SERIES (2006) 16’46
(piano with internal electronics)
Tomoko Mukaiyama, pianist; Gordon Mumma, live-electronics
( rec. premiere: Den Bosch, Netherlands, 2006 Nov 18 )
November Music 2006 CD, (track 7)