Varèse - Ionisation - Boulez, Ensemble InterContemporain

[marcelomelloweb]

Great work! This video is featured in my History of Music playlist , of the Choir Conducting Secondary Technical School , at Ourinhos (SP, Brazil) . Reference: Roy Bennett, History of Music (Cambridge Assignments in Music). ---

Excelente trabalho! Este vídeo faz parte de minha lista de reprodução de vídeos da disciplina História da Música III, do curso de Regência da ETEC de Ourinhos (Centro Paula Souza. A lista está baseada no livro de Roy Bennett, Uma Breve História da Música.

[JKTube]

11 people here think that 418 people here are out of their fucking minds! ;) ;)

"The present-day composer refuses to die!"- Edgard Varese

[NWG92]

I probably would have enjoyed this at the age of 14 too if there hadn't had existed any MTV or Rolling Stone to close my mind off since childhood.

[soukalandia]

soy el puto amoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooo

[lovannet]

Great!!!!

[TassiloDavid]

Any idea the date of this performance? THanks.

[CJandthebreakfast]

This is the best performance/video of this piece I've ever seen. Just first class all around.

[bluephihitman]

@CJandthebreakfast Yeah. I audiotaped a recording of Boulez w/the Chicago Symphony percussion many years ago...a GLORIOUS performance, but of course not on video. He seems to do well with the piece, though.

[badazzpresidents23]

After 2 years, I still have trouble grasping the complexity of this song. And i'm trying to because I like the way it sounds, it's interesting and at moments beautiful. i know one day i'll be listening to this and i'll finally 'get it' i await that day because that'll probably be the day i either lose my sanity or have a revelation of cosmic proportions and my life will be changed forever.

[PathosDistanz]

Is there a way to put a video on repeat?

[PathosDistanz]

Who directed and edited this video? It's a superlative piece of work.

[societyforrealmusic]

Boulez has in incredible version of Beethoven's Fifth... completely different. I have heard the first movement. Somebody put it up?!

[JZC124]

amazing!

[tempelton]

Wait, didn't Justin Bieber do a cover of this?

[DimensionsofChange]

@tempelton TROLLLLLLL!

[tempelton]

@DimensionsofChange It's call sarcasm, dickhead. i.e. I was joking. (seriously, a sense of humor is important in this day and age - try one out sometime and you'll see what I mean).

[DrBongos]

I came here because of Zappa too. Thanks, Frank, for turning me on to Varèse, Stravinski and Cage.

[bigfootpegrande]

Starts at 0:24. Thanks for sharing!

[DimensionsofChange]

Alright I admit it, I'm here because of Zappa.

[jre58591]

@DimensionsofChange Now you get to see where he got some of his inspiration from. The Zappa connection is nothing to be ashamed of. Both Zappa and Varèse were great artists.

[ikillyourants]

@DimensionsofChange and Zappa was here because of Varese, so it's okay.

[DimensionsofChange]

@ikillyourants And, I was at Zappa because his name kept showing up in wikipedia articles.

But why was Varese anywhere ever?

[MrGReed530]

@DimensionsofChange 35 pages in of "The Real Frank Zappa Book." I had to put the book down to look this up. Fucking incredible.

[DimensionsofChange]

@MrGReed530 Yeah it's like I am American and so can you, but more serious and a simplified version of the sales tax. Plus tips on how to make it in the music business.

[DimensionsofChange]

@MrGReed530 Fair tax*

[bluephihitman]

@DimensionsofChange It's so intriguing to hear the subtle influences in Zappa's work, influences which become more apparent the more Varèse you study. Zappa knew genius when he heard it; no surprise, as he may well have been one himself. I say, freak out proudly.

[scot972]

@DimensionsofChange you're not alone,my dearZ Friend !!!

[DimensionsofChange]

@scot972 I had that feeling

[ZarBono]

@DimensionsofChange Me too!!!.

[ahioud]

damn. I can see how this influenced Frank Zappa.

[diaboliqueinmusica]

One of the best performances of this piece that I've yet to hear. Thanks for posting!

[BoIoko]

I don't like it... And i believe there are a lot of pseudo-intelectual people who "loves and finds it amazing" but in fact doesn't like. I just listen to a lot of random noises and i don't get it...

[alonsoamadeus]

@BoIoko hahahahha what a poor comment, you asume a fact that is not true. then you are dumb.or a lier.

[GSnaker]

@alonsoamadeus Prove your point then, or stop calling other people names without the facts that you love so much.

[ShevanelSaeglopur]

@GSnaker It's a nice aesthetic. There doesn't have to be anything intellectual about it for someone to enjoy it. Most music from the 20th century focusing completely on the aesthetic, and that is perfectly fine. Remember: Different strokes for different folks.

[yellowknots]

@BoIoko not random

[logica10]

This video is great. Multi angle developed from conventional film, outstanding editing work, hifi stereo sound. Perhaps is the quintessential composition for 20th century experimental music. This is a great (and controversial) conductor for a controversial (and great) oeuvre. Boulez at his best. Thanks for sharing!!

[tvstatic23]

Garbage..they are playing it at half speed. I knew Boulez would fail.

[KentuckyKid84]

It's amazing how tame some things begin to sound over time. Today, it doesn't seem that difficult to follow this piece and listen to what Varese was doing...but considering that, for the premiere, they had to employ composers (such as Creston and Cowell) over members of the New York Phil, it must have been a real challenge in the early 1930s.

[boogster123321]

@KentuckyKid84 do you mean the composers had to play it? what do you mean

[strondaster]

Tenho mesmo que estudar essa bosta? --'

Restart sempre ♥

[Coala8D]

@strondaster Pelo visto ainda não entendeu.

[AnarchiveMagnetik]

Thank you

[gregmphillips]

Edgard Varese "Ionisation" - I was turned on to this by Frank Zappa's DVD "Apostrophe', Overnite Sensation". Frank said he would listen to this and his mother, while doing her ironing, didn't like it. And he said to her, "but listen to the siren!" I totally get it!

It's been said that this piece of music was what made Frank Zappa want to write music.

[Dead8Bird]

@gregmphillips Frank used to listen that at the age of 12!!!

he said that he couldn't understand anything...but he used to listen the record over and over again that he memorized....it just amazing

[gammaGTgammajereste]

@Dead8Bird

frank Z. évidemment !

[Dead8Bird]

@gammaGTgammajereste

at the age of 12 i was watching pokemon hahahahaha

even right now is gonna be pretty hard to memorize that haha

[sdmf62]

Most Excellent

[greatgretschsound29]

what is the instrument/ effect that they are using when they pull that string? ive seen it in a couple other videos...

[licoricestic]

a lion's roar

[greatgretschsound29]

@licoricestic Thanks

[StookieBill]

@licoricestic

a kind of orchestral cuica? cuicas are a monkey thing, which has a nice symmetry about it:

watch?v=zqS2hw2fL2A

[TonyNewman]

@greatgretschsound29 It sounds like the sound made during air raids in war movies.

[metalhead9494]

im playing this in my school percussion class

[Lifesucksdie123]

cool shit

[guitarslim56]

The notes are what you hear.

[xtanakondax]

espectacular!!!

[TheBelmor]

Gentlemen: did you forget it´s about music?

[jancivil]

"political correctness" not such a problem for Shostakovich, who served The State. for a living.. Who is somebody like that to tell me what music I 'Need". That's a guy with Stockholm Syndrome, he's begun to ape his captors/abusers

[tomdelayhole]

Actually, Shostakovich didn't "serve the state for a living." He was under internal exile for a lot of his career, as Stalin didn't like him. Prokofiev.. now THERE was a guy who served the State, performing every little task Stalin required.

[pinkbiscuit00]

Study a bit of music history before saying such non sense

[tomdelayhole]

actually, I've got a master's in music history, little girl. Why don't you try reading a little before you screech at people on the internet? Shostakovich had family members murdered by Stalin. Nothing wrong with Prokofiev's music.. but he got to enjoy most of his musical career in the USSR. Try listening to something else besides Lt Kije sometime.

[revions]

Since you mention Shostakovich, it might be nice to know that Malcolm MacDonald wrote extensive books about the traditional composers Brahms, Schoenberg and Varèse. And yes: also an important work about your favorite: Shostakovich.

So enjoying Shostakovich doesn't automatically exclude Varèse, Schoenberg and Brahms

[richtomes]

Yes revions, it was a good idea to remove your earlier comments that Ameriques and Arcana are works by Varése in the same league as Le Sacre - what utter nonsense.

[revions]

I guess that is another fine example from you in which you evaluate works which you've never have heard.

[revions]

'I believe after the fashion of theme and its rhetorical development after the fashion of the classical formulae is over, but that an analogous discipline, creating new forms by transmutation of the material, is necessary for today.'

[revions]

Thanks to conductors like Chailly and Boulez, Ameriques has taken its rightful place as one of the supreme virtuoso orchestral showpieces of the early 20th century, along with Mahler's symphonies, Debussy's La Mer and Stravinksy's Sacre du Printemps.

[richtomes]

Do you think anyone is convinced by such utter nonsense ?

[revions]

"An artist is never ahead of his time but most people are far behind theirs."

[richtomes]

Ah yes, the saints and apes thing again - Goebbels was fond of it too

[revions]

No, that is the famous quote by Varèse, but Beethoven could have said the same thing when his Eroica shocked people, or Mozart when his Dissonance quartet was not yet understood, or Stravinsky when his audience was not ready for his Sacre.

And what Goebbels said was anti-semitic, and it is another sign of bad taste that you use such a thing against artists that had a boycot against them during the 3rd Reich. You have no dignity and respect for other people.

[richtomes]

Goebbels was not only anti semitic - there were a whole range of geneologies, mental and physical characteristics which disqualified people from being admitted to the master race - or shall we say suprahuman race. One method of discrimination was through close examination of face and cranium - 'they all look human - more or less' as Stockhausen said.

[revions]

Shame on you!

Well, of course you don't know that Stockhausen lost both his parents because of the Nazis! You have no respect for the dead! His mother was killed in the euthanasia-programm. So the way you abuse your interpretation of Nobelprizewinner Albert Schweitzer (!) words about humans not being equal and connect these ideas to nazis is respectless, dumb and shows bad taste.

[richtomes]

You are very immature. Stockhausen was no monster, but his words are an example of a grossly misguided way of thinking. KS meant no harm to anyone by what he said about 9/11 or when he quoted Schweitzer. Hitler genuinely believed that he would be doing a service to mankind by cleaning the world of inferior races. Yes there would be a few deaths, ok, the audience was not willing, but in the end it would be all illumination. Bad things often begin with seemingly high minded idealistic visions.

[revions]

Immature? Okay, why not...?

But I'm not on youtube talking politics instead of music.

And this video is about Varèse. When you mistake an artistic quote with being from the nazis or Stockhausen...

Orff and Wagner had more in common with the nazis than any other composer. Still you respect them. Why can't you respect others that don't have skeletons in their closet?

"Bad things often begin with seemingly high minded idealistic visions. " Yes? So what? What bad things did Varèse start?

[BuckshotLaFunke]

TheBelmor, the reactions below show again that music can be dangerous.

[revions]

It is here that we first see the breadth, depth, orchestration, and spirit that mark a breaking away from the pretty, melodically pleasing melodies of earlier periods. He had declared he was discontent with the quality of his compositions thus far and Henceforth shall take a new path.

[jonbashjonbash]

Well, twelve-tone atonal stuff came before this, and I would say that was definitely breaking away from anything pretty or melodically pleasing.

[revions]

Preceding ages show us that changes in art occur because societies and artists have new needs. New aspirations emanate from every epoch. The artist being always of his own time is influenced by it, and in turn is an influence.

Contrary to the general notion, the artist is never ahead of his own time, but is simply the one who is not way behind his times.

[revions]

@richtomes You probably think that the letters of recommendation by Richard Strauss, Muck or Gustav Mahler are forgeries?

Or do you think that they don't know anything about the true values of western music? And err just like Kremer, Pollini, Rattle, Bernstein?

Or do you need to school yourself in classical music, so that you can understand what makes Varèse such a brilliant compoer?

Inform yourself

[Randomguru]

this work is pure genius. but the best interpretation i've heard of this composition was performed by the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble on the Nonesuch label.

i highly recommend you give this a listen. the clarity of the recording is amazing.

[revions]

"There has never been a creator of lasting performance who has not also been an innovator."

[tijmtol]

you just don't like this music, thats clear. And perhaps shostakovitch didn't like it eather. But that doesn't means this isn't good music or that it is lesser music than other composers. Its just your opinion.

[revions]

This primitivism was o.a. inspired by Stravinksy Le Sacre. In 1913 the audience reacted just like you. Nowadays most people recognize that Le Sacre is one of the most important compositions of the beginning of the 20th century. Ameriques and Arcana are works by Varèse in the same league.

When you don't hear structure in the masterpieces of the 20th century, it only disqualifies you as a listener, but it does't influence or undermine the value of these works.

[richtomes]

Ameriques and Arcana are works by Varèse in the same league as Le Sacre.

Do you really believe the utter nonsense you are writing ?

[revions]

probably you never have experienced a performance of Ionisation, Ameriques or Arcana.

so, what is nonsense about it?

[revions]

Once again: When you don't hear structure in the masterpieces of the 20th century, it only disqualifies you as a listener, but it does't influence or undermine the value of these works.

That goes for all those composers whose work you dislike simply because you don't recognize classical & traditional training.

It is basic musical training to learn and understand music history, which didn't end after WW II.

[revions]

It is very strange that you only hear cacophony and your ears are not able to hear a structure. Why are you not able to hear the development of rhythmic motivs ecc.?

This was written 14 years after Debussy died. The respect D. had for Varèse was because of his earlier work.

Time changes, music changes.

Stravinksys did more for the young composers than just lip service.

Of course Shostakovich would recognize that Nono is a great composer. That is congeniality, not political correctness.

[revions]

Why they didn't write similar sounds? The same question is: why didn't Debussy compose like Strauss? Haven't you learned this in school?

Because music in time changes, composers are individuals, ecc.

But these composers recognize a brilliant mind and composer, even when he composes in a different style. They were able to hear and listen across their own taste.

Just like Stravinsky respected Stockhausen, Boulez, Carter and Berio. That doesn't mean he had to compose in the same style.

[revions]

Think of this: what kind of person would call the music of Varèse junk?

This boldly exploratory attitude brought him the friendship and admiration of Debussy, Strauss, Satie and Busoni; of Marinetti, Picasso, Picabia and Léger.

I guess Debussy, Strauss, Satie and Busoni had the proper musical training to enjoy Varèses mind and music.

[sotoximercer]

If a picture paints a thousand words, Varese's music paints a thousand pictures. This is what music is all about - real soul-stirring stuff.

[revions]

an amazing piece that almost 80 years after it was written still can astound/shock the middle class

besides these there is still another star, imagination, which begets a new star and a new heaven (Paracelsus: title page of Arcana)

the concept of sound as living matter

music was born free and to win its freedom is its destiny - Busoni

[wuemwu]

From stealthy steps to devilment - musical, of course. Well, brillant.

[antonjjok]

should we thank Zappa for letting so many people take interest in Varese?

[JKTube]

@antonjjok: Hell yeah, why not? 

[vincecharus]

Nice percussion piece!

[Message2Madness]

It's a pity there's no shots of the castanet player, that was fantastic. How do you play a diminuendo on a siren?? I dunno, ask that guy...

A remarkable performance! So transparent and clear, instrument choice was very careful.

[tomtiddler]

Varese, Boulez, Zappa.....Enough said!! 5*****

[improja]

Pierre boulez is the godfather of avant-garde

[jasmincar]

what the fuck. Yeah right go listen to Mozart this weak stuff t is more suited for you.

[DeepSeaSeamus]

Its pretty clear you have absolutely no understanding of this piece if you compare it to a song composed of random feedback. You have a closed ear, if you learned more and were more open minded you would be able to hear a whole new world of music in pieces like this. or just kill yourself because you are a worthless pig headed imbecile

[capnpayne]

Hahaha

[rhungri]

This piece of 'music' was the biggest influence upon Frank Zappa; it was instrumental in his compositions & song structures and its influence can be heard in his music from each album he released. Zappa had unique phrasing & used polyrythmic time signatures - which , in conjunction with his undeniable genius, made him an unique artist. If it were not for Varèse, more than 30 years of music would never have existed.

[tijmtol]

I like the style of this vid. It makes the music easier to understand.

[ibonyun]

Boulez is the man. His interpretations are always top notch. This performance is very sensitive to the subtleties of the piece. I've never seen him conduct before. He looks rediculous.

For those of you who trash talk music like this, you're listening in the wrong way. Don't listen for pitch, harmony, and melody. Instead focus on timbre, texture, rhythm, and gesture. It's okay not to like it (to each his/her own), but don't insult it simply because you don't understand it.

[boogster123321]

these guys play this song better than the other one from hair farmer.

[MLAOTNMCC]

3:06 -- insane!

[anonymousbosch420]

One of zappas favourites.

[gunnsgthartman]

I mean, real percussionnists don't have to bang on percussions to make a "exciting" performance.

This is as close as noise and mostly undefined frequencies.

[tomdelayhole]

well, bud. you're nuts, too.

[gunnsgthartman]

What the hell? This performance is amazing.

I prefer Pierre Boulez' direction for any Stravinsky or Varese work.

[muslit]

not a very exciting performance

[bterbter]

Gosh, how sad does this man look... Sad music, dark looks, black clothes, this is the antipod of music, of what it should be...

[luh2112]

Thats tight ...

[bcad0]

This is great, but where are the lion roars I've always heard about?

[jre58591]

They are there. They aren't quite as potent and screechy as in other recordings I have heard, but they are there. That is the one thing that doesn't make this recording perfect, I think.

[pje723]

It's featured in the top right corner at 1:15, and part of the ensemble in the bottom right corner, at 3:08. This particular version of the instrument is suspended and the performer pulls down from beneath on a string attached to the middle of the drum head

[BlockChordsRed]

beautiful performance and presentation. whether conducting Wagner's Ring Cycle, the works of Webern, Bach or Varese, Pierre Boulez always seems to be in the middle of something exciting.

[musicolorhythm]

Esta pieza queda para la historia. Es asombrosa.

[rosamattina31]

Sonorità e ricerche di ritmo che sanno parlare a

lle angosce ed ai tumulti della confusione moderna.

Si avvertono in queste suoni fratture tagli interruzioni

disperazioni attonite taglienti.............

Norma Lorena Melis 2008

[answerplz3000]

I will never get enough of this brilliant piece of music

[WIGNSWORD]

So atavistic I want to think of the first moments of the first second of the universe!!

[seakaye]

wow! this vid is a great gift! this milestone of musical history, performed by the best musicians thinkable in this genre and presented in a highly transparent manner!

[bsaxagent]

Bizzarre, and yet oddly satisfying.

Wonderful piece.

[Geiir]

Insane!

[goodmanmusica]

ottima esecuzione.

[zappator]

Il s'agit de l'oeuvre qui a le plus influencé Frank Zappa

[antonvonwebern]

adoro quasto brano... adoooroooo!!!

[areyoucursed]

Intense.

[Roddeo29]

i don't get it, what's the time signature

[jre58591]

it starts in 4/4 and changes many times from there. what does it matter what the time signature is? just listen to it with an open mind and enjoy it.

[comtemuffat]

just let him ask and think about what he wants when listening music!

[melissalemire]

Que le public rejette de façon aussi unanime la "musique" de Boulez pourrait le rendre plutôt sympathique ! Mais ce n'est pas le cas. En effet, il ne faut pas oublier ses autres "oeuvres" que sont l'IRCAM et l'Ensemble Intercontemporain, furoncles qui coûtent cher au contribuable parisien mais sont totalement inutiles, hormis pour recaser les potes du "compositeur officiel". Espérons qu'après le décès du Grand Protecteur Chirac, la Cour des Comptes épinglera ces scandales et qu'on y mettra fin.

[atralfalgar]

tu as raison.

[revoltz7]

Primitive.

[bassist412]

In what fashion?

[chicadri]

conne!

[69pepeto]

Ce commentaire en dit long sur la musicologie en France. Vraiment incroyable d'entendre de pareil non-argments sur un chef d'œuvre de la musique à ce niveau d'études.

[nibelungensohn]

This performance is much better than the other one. The instruments are better balanced and everything is so much clearer. The other one is shapeless compared with this.

I also like this better than both Boulez' Sony recording and a TV performance he did 20 years ago.

[Lemonpedie]

I add also:

We should analyze society through music more.

And not only analyze music...that is a problem.

Everything we cant connect to the rest, think about...

[Lemonpedie]

Varese was great- Boules and his "slaves" look quite terrifing:

all is too clean, pseudo-fascist-post-modern, Pierre looks like a possible Europeas Right-wing President, Scary indeed!!!

[symoncarpediem]

Actually, you should see/hear the other versions. The precision of Boulez is the key to the understangind of the piece... and also what makes this version one of the only excellent versions. Comment from a musical analysis student.

[Lemonpedie]

I agree it is a "great version", I am myself a musician, and I know the very score of it. Nevertheless this fashion fo making music, with no space for natural chance, openings to other ways of seeing the Word and the Human, out of a Cartesian system, is a big limit for our western culture...

The leading itself it is quite out of fashion concept, and if used, it is already of another kind...

Pyramid structure is governing our word, but should be different, and you know that... you use  Youtube!

[DeepSeaSeamus]

I think you are reading far too much into this

[dance247grl]

we learn about this a lot in my general music class

[01perkussion]

wow i cannot believe i found this on youtube!!! i love the way they used the camera to highlight varese's emphasis on small musicial cells.

[soremongs]

Excellent music...Bad combover.

[frosty956]

lol

[frosty956]

I think the ending is the best bit

[captainfink]

HIT IT, Pierre!!

[thepaulreed]

This is a very good performance of Ionisation, and I've heard quite a few of them. The only one I know of that's this good or maybe even a little better :-) is mine, to which I invite your attention. Click on the URL link in my profile and check out my version. But Boulez really nails it here. I think I heard a recording of Ionisation he did with the percussion section from the NY Philharmonic some years ago.

[captainfink]

greta siren player.....

[JiraffeR]

which one

[HappyJuiceMusic]

I've never really listened to this sort of music. My guitar teacher said I should check Edgar Varese out.

This is really amazing.

[captainfink]

for people who need pictures with their music

[digitalshark]

Maybe that's a bit dismissive, if you are serious. I believe in this case, having orchestra specific video only helps aid in the understanding of his music, and helps people understand that it is a composition (don't laugh). And it helps to "preach" his music to those who aren't already "converted." Know what I mean?

[captainfink]

I was being partly serious. However, being a huge fan of Frank Zappa and therefore being aware of Monsieur Varese and his work,I agree it is interesting to watch people actually performing music which most people would still consider a cacophany (and almost certainly would never get a chance to hear other than on YouTube).

[Jazzguitar00]

This is definitely how this piece was suppose to sound.

Thanks for uploading.

[senator200]

Man, that was great !

Something you probably won't see on American

T.V.

[sorryobject]

best recording i have ever heard of this piece.

[timmo1782]

it's a hit! listening to this is very.. i dunno, liberating? it's hard to explain. superb.

[BrucknerEnthusiast]

Edgard Varese would have been delighted to hear you call his music 'liberating'. He liberated sound probably more than any other 20th-century classical composer; that was his specific intention. Don't worry if you can't explain to yourself WHY you like a piece of 20th-century classical music. I know many contemporary classical composers and they don't mind whether their audiences understand their music, they are just content if audiences like it. Thanks for showing such openmindedness.

[sunaosama]

brilliant

[rarabussotti]

excellent