Jazz for aficionados

i just wrote this  to convey  my Scriabin  impression:

I created the past that never was
In the present which encompass
Nothing old or new
 But the future as memory anew

The instant of perception
Reflect nothing 
But is the seed of an aeon
Whose voice sing

Out of any tune
Out of any time
Like the mysterious rune
From a god mime

@mahgister, here is a poem I wrote many years ago about Stravinsky's Rite of Spring:

Stravinsky

 

 

Such a leap

from an oompah

band to the dark primordial

marshland sprawling

beyond sight or imagination

in an absolutely secret

expanse finally brought

to light. He grabs it

by the neck, that

captured goblin, &

will not yield

to its wailing &

incessant

rhythmic kicking, until

it quiets & whispers

ageless secrets in

his ear / about fear

& sensuality

long forgotten.

Thanks tyray i am happy to be useful ...

@mahgister

The reason for me is evident so genius was Stravinsky and he is one of the greatest Russian composer, Scriabin is more revolutionary, transforming piano playing into a "primal" musical time machine which goal was putting us in a trance. He succeeded. By the way in jazz Sun Ra is our Scriabin so to speak....

The mastery of Stravinsky was the witchcraft by which he could use all musical stylistic languages of all musical history in some patchwork way...

 

Thank you for this....Very musically informative for me.

Fantastic post, @mahgister !  It is generally acknowledged that Jazz, at its most basic, is a blend of African rhythmic elements and European harmony.  As you suggest, in the absence of time/rhythm, however obtuse (“Rite….” is a good example), harmony becomes almost pointless.

Thanks for the “The Bad Plus” clip, @acman3 .  One of the best “non traditional” takes on “Rite of Spring” that I have heard; and there are many.

It should be noted that Russian and French musical traditions are closely intertwined.  Both Stravinsky and Scriabin were heavily influenced by French musical ideas and traditions; particularly Russia’s ballet tradition (“Rite…”).  It was common for French musicians of note to be “imported” to Russia to teach Russian students.

Sounds rather French to me, not to mention simply beautiful:

https://youtu.be/C6LhXzKs0rY?si=PAVJABEgqrKsEtFA

Thanks frogman for your appreciation which means much to me...

This is my favorite version of the same piece of Richter by the greatest Scriabin disciple (who wed his daughter) Sofronitsky. I was not a fan of Scriabin till i heard him. After Scriabin became one of my musical god. ( Josquin des Prez. Bach,Brucker,Scriabin)

As an anecdote Richter and Gilels were the young disciple of Sofronitsky and some night drunk with their master they heard him saying you are geniuses but they protested to him claiming he was anyway a god...

 The expressive power of Sofronitsky is unmatched save by few like Heinrich  Neuhaus and his son Stanislas,Igor zhukov, and surprizingly but  badly recorded the Italian master Michael PontI  . I say that because in my experience almost nobody can play Scriabin as it should. We cannot whistle Scriabin then playing it suppose an understanding of each chord meaning very few are able to understand with the heart and hands.Id you did not enter ecstasy listening Scriabin it is because of the pianist not Scriabin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_OcCeVVdZE&list=RDK_OcCeVVdZE&start_radio=1

Fantastic post, @mahgister !  It is generally acknowledged that Jazz, at its most basic, is a blend of African rhythmic elements and European harmony.  As you suggest, in the absence of time/rhythm, however obtuse (“Rite….” is a good example), harmony becomes almost pointless.

Thanks for the “The Bad Plus” clip, @acman3 .  One of the best “non traditional” takes on “Rite of Spring” that I have heard; and there are many.

It should be noted that Russian and French musical traditions are closely intertwined.  Both Stravinsky and Scriabin were heavily influenced by French musical ideas and traditions; particularly Russia’s ballet tradition (“Rite…”).  It was common for French musicians of note to be “imported” to Russia to teach Russian students.

Sounds rather French to me, not to mention simply beautiful:

https://youtu.be/C6LhXzKs0rY?si=PAVJABEgqrKsEtFA

Listening to Joshua Redman, Words Fall Short album again.  Not once has the sound gone past 70dbs and that’s just perfect.