Monday, August 13, 2012

Musique Concrète (Candide, 196?)



Pierre Schaeffer helped form Studio d'Essai de la Radiodiffusion-Télévision Française in France during World War II. Initially serving the French Resistance, Studio d'Essai became a hub for musical development centered around implementing electronic devices in compositions. It was from this group that musique concrète was developed. A type of electroacoustic music, musique concrète is characterized by its use of recorded sound, electronics, tape, animate and inanimate sound sources, and various manipulation techniques. The pieces heard on this album were composed by members of Groupe de Recherches de Musicales. I've included scans of the insert containing notes for each piece. Listen.

Saturday, August 11, 2012

António Victorino d'Almeida - Catedral da Angústia (Decca, 1974)




Catedral da Angústia is an experimental album by Portuguese composer António Victorino d'Almeida. D'Almeida has had a fruitful career as an artist in various fields, gaining recognition as a composer, performer, author and actor. At the time of this release, he was mostly known for his work producing and hosting the television program Histórias da Música. He is recognized today for his extensive work in television, and his large body of contemporary classical compositions. Catedral da Angústia expresses d'Almeida's interest in avant-garde and musique concrète and differs greatly from his later compositions.