Ives Plays Ives: The Complete Recordings of Charles Ives [SAA Album Club discussion]

TockTockTock · 05-09-2011, 05:14 PM

Might as well give my take on it... I can't say that it's a compilation that I'll listen to all in one sitting, but I know I will listen to a few tracks every now and then in the future (it's growing on me a bit).

Unlike that asinine debate over Cage's affiliation with classical music, it's very clear that this work has roots in the genre. Charles Ives' use of dissonance and atypical patterning of notes (or however you say it), though, brings it more into the realm of avant-garde. I will admit that sitting through the album was a bit exhausting the first go-around, but when I listened to it a second time... well, I have to say it was worth it.

This was my first exposure to pre-WWII avant-garde music, and I can definitely say that I will be listening to some more in the future.

I apologize for not posting a more in-depth review of the album, but I felt that it deserves some more discussion at this point.

Badlittlekitten · 05-10-2011, 12:04 PM

My only previous experience with Ives was Symphony no. 3 which is a classical piece, and this is a completely different beast. After a few minutes of chin stroking I was won over, following every note of his odd chromatic scales. This began a pattern, every time my mind drifted elsewhere I was snapped back into attention by a hammering of haunting miner chords or a twinkling tangent of joy. The only negative is that it's a bit too long for one sitting.

Thumbs upidy up.

TockTockTock · 05-15-2011, 08:02 AM

I kind of liked how unpredictable Ives' pieces are. Like most avant-garde music, it's very difficult to figure out what will happen next. It tends to quickly dip down into classical composition and then go into something more experimental, but then there are bits of dissonance that appear every now and then along with some atypical pauses. It's... somewhat like a roller coaster for the piano.

NGPercussion · 05-22-2011, 02:16 AM

Anyone wanna send me the album?

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05-10-2011, 12:04 PM	#12 (permalink)
Badlittlekitten And then there was music Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Near Wild Heaven Posts: 287	My only previous experience with Ives was Symphony no. 3 which is a classical piece, and this is a completely different beast. After a few minutes of chin stroking I was won over, following every note of his odd chromatic scales. This began a pattern, every time my mind drifted elsewhere I was snapped back into attention by a hammering of haunting miner chords or a twinkling tangent of joy. The only negative is that it's a bit too long for one sitting. Thumbs upidy up. __________________ 'Said do you feel it? Do you feel it when you TOUCH ME?. THERE'S A FIRE! THERE'S A FIRE!' The Stooges. Dirt. https://soundcloud.com/bad-little-kittens My Top 100 LPs My Top 52 Indie Tracks Of The 21st Century (incomplete)

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05-09-2011, 05:14 PM	#11 (permalink)
TockTockTock They/Them Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,914	Might as well give my take on it... I can't say that it's a compilation that I'll listen to all in one sitting, but I know I will listen to a few tracks every now and then in the future (it's growing on me a bit). Unlike that asinine debate over Cage's affiliation with classical music, it's very clear that this work has roots in the genre. Charles Ives' use of dissonance and atypical patterning of notes (or however you say it), though, brings it more into the realm of avant-garde. I will admit that sitting through the album was a bit exhausting the first go-around, but when I listened to it a second time... well, I have to say it was worth it. This was my first exposure to pre-WWII avant-garde music, and I can definitely say that I will be listening to some more in the future. I apologize for not posting a more in-depth review of the album, but I felt that it deserves some more discussion at this point.

05-15-2011, 08:02 AM	#13 (permalink)
TockTockTock They/Them Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,914	I kind of liked how unpredictable Ives' pieces are. Like most avant-garde music, it's very difficult to figure out what will happen next. It tends to quickly dip down into classical composition and then go into something more experimental, but then there are bits of dissonance that appear every now and then along with some atypical pauses. It's... somewhat like a roller coaster for the piano.

05-22-2011, 02:16 AM	#14 (permalink)
NGPercussion MB Percussionist Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: USA Posts: 135	Anyone wanna send me the album?