One of Mozart’s last chamber works was composed for Benajmin Franklin's 'glass armonica' invention in May 1791, where horizontally stacked glass rims were arrayed in front of a musician who played each note while the machine kept the glasses turning. If one doesn’t have a ‘glass armonica,’ it seems that it is crystal wine glasses that give a rich sustain sound when rubbed and a clear ringing when struck. Hear pieces featuring wine glasses by Paula Matthusen, George Crumb, Joseph Schwantner, Daniel Lentz, and Canadian composer Gordon Fitzell.
The American composer George Crumb, known for his exploration of instruments’ and singers’ limits, has asked singers (and pianists) to bellow into a piano body, hiss, whisper and otherwise activate sounds in unusual ways. In this chamber work, “Dream Sequence,” violin, cello, percussion, and prepared piano are pitted against an offstage drone created by a glass harmonica – where performers rub the rims of tuned goblets until directed to fade out at the end.
From a record of musical meditations on family photos commissioned by Yvgeny Kutik, listen to “Daydreams…” by Joseph Schwantner, a reverie for violin, vocal quartet and glass harmonica. Also, hear the duo of resonator guitarist (James Moore) and violinist (Andie Springer) also using crystal wine glasses in a piece by electroacoustic composer and sound artist Paula Matthusen. Plus, hear California-based Daniel Lentz's "Postludium," from his Missa Umbrarum where the choir members rub and strike wine glasses while singing, while also adjusting the pitch of the glasses by altering the volume of liquid within.
Program #4445, Music With Wine Glasses (First Aired 12/23/2020)
ARTIST: Christa and Gerald Schönfeldinger
WORK: Mozart: Adagio K 617a for glass armonica [1:22]
RECORDING/SOURCE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OPJPvqeqWs
ARTIST: James Moore & Andie Springer
WORK: Paula Matthusen: in absentia [4:22]
RECORDING: Gertrudes | music for violin & resonator gtr
SOURCE: New World Records 80771
INFO: newworldrecords.org
ARTIST: Aeolian Chamber Players
WORK: George Crumb: Dream Sequence [13:59]
RECORDING: George Crumb: Dream Sequence
SOURCE: Odyssey LP
INFO: Out of print. Try auction sites
ARTIST: Galax Quartet
WORK: Robert Morse: Radif IV Stars of Highest Magnitude, 4. Denebola [3:42]
RECORDING: Dream Drapery
SOURCE: Music and Arts recordings
INFO: galaxquartet.org | musicandarts.com
ARTIST: Yvgeny Kutik, violin; Michael Barrett, Tenor; Corey Hart, Tenor; Sarah Moyer, Soprano; Carey Shunskis, Soprano
WORK: Joseph Schwantner: Daydreams [4:30]
RECORDING: Meditations on Family
SOURCE: Marquis Music
INFO: yevgenykutik.com
ARTIST: Daniel Lentz
WORK: Postludium [8:15]
RECORDING: Missa Umbrarum
SOURCE: New Albion 006
INFO: Available at Amazon.com, also as an LP, via Amazon.com
ARTIST: Ensemble contemporain de Montréal
WORK: Gordon Fitzell: evanescence [8:28]
RECORDING: Magister Ludi: Music Of Gordon Fitzell
SOURCE: Centrediscs
INFO: Available at Arkiv Music
