Who IS Frank Zappa - Progressive Rock Music Forum

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HolyMoly

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 10:17

Yeah, I'm getting motion sickness!

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 10:57

"Did you ever get a chance to listen to the 2012 Hot Rats? What is your opinion ?"

Love it. The drums sound terrific !

The.Crimson.King View Drop Down

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 11:03

darkshade wrote:

Also, I gave 200 Motels a spin last night for the first time, very enjoyable on first listen. Will probably throw it on again soon. And then soon, I can finally listen to Civilization Phaze III.

You're in for quite the experience. Disk 1 of Phaze III is an especially amazing piece of work.

"Music is the only religion that delivers the goods" - FZ Wink

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darkshade

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 13:07

Yea I can't wait, Once I'm more familiar with 200 Motels, as well as Feeding The Monkies (I'm still digesting this one, and it's a kind of prequel to CPIII), I'm going to dive right in.

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darkshade

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 13:08

hellogoodbye wrote:

"Did you ever get a chance to listen to the 2012 Hot Rats? What is your opinion ?"

Love it. The drums sound terrific !

I've listened to the 2012 version maybe 5-6 times by now, and I do enjoy it for all the differences it has from the remix, being that it's from the analog tapes, but I think I still prefer the remix, which is the only version I've known for years.

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 13:21

I understand. Personally I only knew it in vynil and I had time to forget it. This explains that. Smile

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 13:33

Someone lives in L.A ?

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/frank-zappas-200-motels-to-make-full-length-live-orchestral-debut/

darkshade

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 13:37

I gotta say, the orchestral arrangements are so different from any other album featuring them, especially the ones specifically orchestral like Orchestral Favorites, LSO, The Yellow Shark. It seems closer to Lumpy Gravy's symphonic arrangements. Not sure how to describe them, but there seems like there is less Varese influence in 200 Motels than pretty much all other orchestral Zappa works. I will, of course, need to listen a few more times.

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 13:43

True. Less Varese influence in 200 motels. Much more Berg and Schoenberg. Something more dramatic and connected to a human feeling.

You should listen to this piece by the american composer John Adams. The inspiration comes from Schoenberg, but I hear Zappa much more. Great !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbEk9Kzj5tc

HolyMoly

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 13:45

It has a lot to do with how it was recorded. For stuff like Orchestral Favorites, the instruments were close-mic'd which gives the recording more separation between instruments, which is not the traditional way to record orchestras. 200 Motels was more of a traditional recording, basically live in the film studio. So i think that's part of why it sounds arranged different.

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HolyMoly

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 13:47

But I agree there may be less Varese in 200 Motels. There are some very percussion oriented segments, though, which remind me of Varese, such as the "Dance of the Just Plain Folks" track

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 14:45

hellogoodbye wrote:

True. Less Varese influence in 200 motels. Much more Berg and Schoenberg. Something more dramatic and connected to a human feeling.

You should listen to this piece by the american composer John Adams. The inspiration comes from Schoenberg, but I hear Zappa much more. Great !

Arnold Schoenberg

In the mid 90's I bought a couple music theory books on Schoenberg's "Serial Music" (how to do it, what the rules are, etc...). Then I composed a few pieces and entered them into my computer using an old PC program called Noteworthy Composer. When I played them back I was amazed...they sounded just like FZ's "serious" music Bowdown

I'd highly recommend any adventurous Zappa-phile to check out some Arnold Schoenberg. I'd suggest "Pierrot Lunaire" or "Piano Pieces OP 33a & b" to begin. If you can get past those, go for the multi-CD recording of his opera "Moses and Aron"...it's incredible.

I got interested in hearing Schoenberg while reading a fascinating book called "The Twisted Muse". It discusses the history of music and art during the nazi regime in Germany. Goebbels despised Schoenberg and outlawed the performance of his music in the 1930's citing it as "decadent". Luckily for the world, Schoenberg escaped to the US before he could be arrested or worse and continued to compose and eventually teach music theory/composition at UCLA.

One of my favourite Schoenberg quotes kinda sounds Zappa-esque...

"My music is not modern. It is merely badly played" - Schoenberg

Check him out.

Edited by The.Crimson.King - June 07 2013 at 14:47

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 16:00

From "200 Motels" to "Moses and Aron". COOL Lamp

HolyMoly

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 16:50

Schoenberg's early neo-Classical works are really pretty too. I was surprised.

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 16:56

Yep, maybe "The Transfigured Night" is the place to start Question

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KCMxWC50i8M

HolyMoly

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 17:03

Verklärte Nacht! Ja wohl.

Edited by HolyMoly - June 07 2013 at 17:03

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 17:07

Man With Hat View Drop Down

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 17:40

darkshade wrote:

Who moved this thread again??? It should be in the Appreciation section.

I don't remember it being moved back in the first place.

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 17:44

darkshade wrote:

Man With Hat wrote:

darkshade wrote:

In the Dream Theater song "Take The Time", in the beginning of the first verse with the samples,
it is Frank Zappa who says "wait a minute", and sounds like it's from
Dancin' Fool ("Wait a minute, let me guess, you're an Italian").I never knew that was Frank, I've been listening to that song and album for like 10 years! I have such a new appreciation for the song even though it's a half second moment.----Also, I gave 200 Motels a spin last night for the first time, very enjoyable on first listen. Will probably throw it on again soon. And then soon, I can finally listen to Civilization Phaze III.

Sweet on both accounts. I'll have to listen to that DT song again.

Did you ever get a chance to listen to the 2012 Hot Rats? What is your opinion?

I did.

It's not bad. I do miss a few of the things on the cd version...most notably the drums in the beginning of It Must Be A Camel. I want to do a side by side listen one day when I have the time ad really get a distinct difference list made. Only one listen, but I do prefer the cd version at this time.

I also didn't find the production to be magnificently better than the ryco cd.

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Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.

darkshade

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Posted: June 07 2013 at 23:01

^ I admit to missing the up front horns on Son Of Mr. Green Genes on the 2012 version, similarly with Peaches, the flute parts aren't as in your face as on the remix. However, it's nice to hear it Must Be A Camel on the 2012 version, adds a more mysterious vibe to it.

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