Free Stuff!!, Again: Contemporary Music on YouTube and from the JACK Quartet

The JACK Quartet (photo by Justin Bernhaut.)

I haven't done a 'free stuff' post for a while, sorry about that, not been on the internets much recently (composing, listening, reading scores, international espionage, you know the deal.)

Here is one to be going along with anyway. I spotted on Tim Rutherford Johnson's blog The Rambler that he has updated his YouTube list of contemporary classical music, worth a look (he also has a list of classical mp3 blogs too.)

Also, I should mention the JACK Quartet again, not only have they recently recorded and released Xenakis's complete string quartets on Mode Records (CD/DVDs) but as I mentioned a while ago, they have a fair bit of music free to stream on their site (Lachenmann, Xenakis, Cassidy, Eötvös and more.)

EDIT: The JACK Quartet used to have full pieces to download/stream on their site but now there are only samples unfortunately, still, better than nothing eh.

If you are feeling in the mood to purchase the JACK Quartet's new releases you can get them at the Complement.Inversion.Etc shop/store.

UK shoppers go here for the CD, and here for the DVD, shoppers in the US go here for the for DVD and at the moment I can't find the CD listed in the US (?) (you can download the CD as an mp3 too BTW, nice, here for UK, here for US)

Messiaen's Technique of My Musical Language: Available!!

This essential text was out of print for ages (I had to look for years and years before finding a copy of it, its importance as a reference and its rarity is arguably the primary reason why various scans of it are floating round on the interweb, which I won't link to here for legal reasons.)

It's now available (in legal hard-copy) from a few sources, Lynn* has managed to get a copy for the complement.inversion.etc franchise (thanks Lynn.), check it out here (only USA though, you could buy it in other territories obviously but that is where it ships from, only one in stock apparently so if you want it via the 'store' move quickly.)

I've included it as my 'deal of the week USA' if you check the side bar on the right and as the link above shows it's in my USA 'store' (which still needs its stock sorting out a bit, books are not in much of a decent order, bear with me.)

Also, you can buy it from Thompson Edition, here (ships from the USA but you can select different territories and currencies to display using the gadget thing at the bottom of the page.)

Amazon dealer price is currently $79,95, via Thompson Edition it's $71.50 (not including postage, I think.). So for those in the UK that's in the £50 'ball-park' at the current exchange rate.

And in the UK, it's available from Musicroom.com, here (a slightly pricey £79.99)

I can say (from the bottom of my 'heart') that it's a really useful text, not just for interpreting Messiaen's music, but of wider compositional interest. Importantly, its practical, succinct style and its bevy of musical examples make it an easy read.

Not only that, but I have uploaded a DVD list to my UK 'shop' which has some excellent titles on offer, most of which I have seen/own hence their inclusion, i.e. they are not a load of rubbish (I am tempted to get the Lachenmann DVD next, I don't have that, or the Wolfgang Rihm one.)

I'll do the USA DVD list next (I am holding off doing CDs and Scores for the time being, they will take longer to select, CDs particularly, obviously.)

(*I should mention, just in case my straight faced 'humour' has confused anyone, Lynn and the other 'staff' at the complement.inversion.etc store don't actually exist, just a bit of fun, i'll continue to make reference to them though, until I get bored of it/them....etc.)

Complement.Inversion.Etc Stores Open For Business!

Opening day today at the brand new complement.inversion.etc store in Tallahassee, Florida. Staff from left to right, Margret: Marketing Manager, Terri: Retail Assistant, Carl: Manager, Riley: Security, Lynn: Stock Manager. Welcome to the complement.inversion.etc family guys, and remember, companies don't succeed, people do.

Yes, check the sidebar on the right. I've only 'stocked' music books and some aesthetics stuff so far, not in any particular order (just listed the ones I own or have read and recommend, and a few I don't own yet but intend to, like 'The Music of Lutoslawski' which i'll order through 'shop' shortly.)

You'll see there is a US store and a UK shop.

Also I have created a 'product of the week' widget where i'll try and promote some worthy purchase (if I spot something cheap and good etc, available in a US and UK version)

I intend to add more stuff to the shop like scores, DVDs and CDs etc. Every time you buy something through the shop with your Amazon account I get some sort of credit with them which eventually gets turned into an Amazon voucher, so I can buy more books and music and post yet more quotes and rambling remarks here, so, everyone's a winner.

However, some items are not available through Amazon directly, used books etc via their various dealers, i've included those anyway as there is some good stuff you can get second hand thats out of print or whatever.

If you want to special order anything let me know, I can get Lynn to order it in.

Bon Marché.

Boston University Messiaen Project

Thats right, its here, and very interesting/useful it is too. Also don`t forget the 2008 Messiaen conference that I mentioned in a previous post. And this centenary site (he was born in 1908 you see, so was Elliott Carter as it happens).





May I also recommend the excellent DVD about Messiaen made by Ideale Audience International, part of their Juxtapositions series. The documentaries are mostly footage of the man himself discussing his methods/ideas/concepts/practices etc (focuses on bird song and talk about nature mostly, not much technical detail or mention of his modes/rhythms etc, also some DVD extras with talking heads about his teaching etc).

Addendum [05/04/08]
Some clips from the DVD above have found their way onto YouTube...







Also the Philharmonia Orchestra have some short Messiaen documentary videos in their YouTube collection.

Juxtapositions Documentary Series

A fine series of documentaries from Ideale Audience International.

Ive seen the Stravinsky and Schoenberg one (Final Chorale/5 Pieces for Orchestra) and I will experience the Messiaen, Boulez and Kurtag/Eötvös soon (the Pierre Henry looks interesting also, next time Gadget, next time).

You can watch excerpts here (most of them anyway, some of the new ones have not been uploaded yet).