Britten Sinfonia (Orchestra)
Frank Zappa and the Fathers of Invention
The Corn Exchange, Cambridge, UK; April 23, 1998.
Excellent BBC broadcast.
In 1998, the Britten Sinfonia, created in 1992 and based in Cambridge, did a three-concert series called “Frank Zappa and the Fathers of Invention”. At this concert, the Sinfonia also performed works by John Cage, Astor Piazolla, Steve Reich, Conlon Nancarrow, Charles Ives and Igor Stravinsky.
Britten Sinfonia is one of the world’s most celebrated and pioneering ensembles. The orchestra is an Associate Ensemble at the Barbican, has residencies in Norwich, Cambridge and Brighton, and a chamber series at Wigmore Hall. - brittensinfonia.com
“I haven’t heard a chamber orchestra performing with such extrovert character and unflagging energy for years.” - The Times
“The playing was marked by the kind of luminous and infectious beauty that only comes froma true marriage of mastery and love.” - The Guardian
“The UK’s most consistently dynamic chamber ensemble.” - The New Statesman
00:00 Intro (0:30)
00:30 Conlon Nancarrow - Tango? (5:11)
05:41 Frank Zappa - Be-bop Tango (2:51)
08:32 Frank Zappa - Get Whitey (10:28)
19:00 Charles Ives - Set For A Theater Orchestra (7:26)
26:26 Charles Ives - The Gong And Hook And Ladder (3:31)
29:58 John Cage - Amores (9:38)
39:36 Astor Piazzolla - Tango (3:45)
[announcer’s comments at the end of the seem off - wrongly transposed or spliced in?]
43:21 Igor Stravinsky - Ragtime (4:40)
48:01 Frank Zappa - Igor’s Boogie (3:18) (arr. Philip Cashian)
51:19 Steve Reich - Music For Large Ensemble (17:57)
1:09:16 Conlon Nancarrow - Study n°6 (4:13)
1:13:29 Frank Zappa - G-spot Tornado (4:34)
Conductor: Stephen Asbury
