Nicolas Slonimsky on Frank Zappa
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
- In these recorded comments by Slonimsky, his musical world (classical/avant garde) and that of Frank Zappa (popular/avant garde) came together primarily due to the publication of a book by Slonimsky on scales and harmonies that attracted Zappas attention. Slonimsky recounts his acceptance of an invitation by Zappa to play with his Rock Band. He also recounts how amazed he was when he observed Zappas scores for classical music which looked far out like something Edgar Varese would write, a composer who was admired by both Slonimsky and Zappa.
Recorded at Slonimsky's home in Los Angeles by Charles Amirkhanian in 1983.
I heard Slonimsky tell this story in a lecture in a new music series at the Palace of Fine Arts Exploratorium in San Francisco in 1981. Some additional details: Slonimsky said that he was at home one night, when the phone rang. He answered, and the caller asked "is this Nicholas Slonimsky?" Slonimsky answered "yes." "You're the Slonimsky who's the author of the 'Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns'?" "Yes, that's me." "Oh, this is great! I've always wanted to meet you! I just happened to stumble across your name in the Los Angeles phone book, and wondered if it was you. This is Frank Zappa." Slonimsky thought this must be some kind of joke, but Zappa assured him that it really was him. Zappa continued "we should get together. What are you doing now?" "Well, actually, I'm watching 'Kojak." "Well, would you like to come over now?" "Um, well, it is kind of late..." "Oh, I suppose it is... well, how about tomorrow, then?" Slonimsky said that he'd be free that next day, so Zappa said that he'd send over a chauffeured limousine to pick him up and take him to Zappa's home. Slonimsky said that, indeed, the next day a vehicle "which looked like a space shuttle!" arrived at his home, and took him over to Zappa's. At this point in the story, Slonimsky said of his meeting Zappa "first of all, he's perfectly normal!" He then continued, saying that there was a Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano in Zappa's living room, which Zappa then invited Slonimsky to play, asking that it be something that used the instrument's extra low notes. Slonimsky obliged, playing an extract from Mussorgsky's Opera "Boris Goudonov." Zappa then invited him to play with his band in an upcoming concert. They settled on performing a composition of Slonimsky's. Slonimsky described arriving at the performance venue, going backstage to meet Zappa, who offered him earplugs with the words "here, you'll need these," because of the extreme levels of sound amplification used in the concert. He said that Zappa introduced him to his audience, calling him "one of our nation's musical treasures!" He said this introduction met with uproarious applause, though added "of course, they would applaud at anything!"
Lmao!
"Well, actually, I'm watching 'Kojak."
This is very nice. Due to Zappa I began listening to Edgard Varese as a teenager and really liked the music. The role of a musician as translator and bridge maker is underappreciated.
Fun fact: Slominsky named his cat 'Grody-to-the-Max' after learning the phrase from Moon Zappa!
It wasn't "gag me with a spoon?"
@@_dorsalfin
Yes, also, but closer is
"grody to the mouth", so actually the cat's name could also be
"grody to the mouse" as a closer variation to the original text.
Slonimsky sounds like a great guy, and he spoke better english than a lot of americans
Mr. Slonimsky was the man with the plan in opening the concert world to modern music, specifically American composers. He conducted, produced...beat the pavements for $ to get all kinds of works heard for the 1st time in the 1920's.
Such a nice coda to a life lived furthering the arts; the world owes him a huge debt of gratitude...no one was making money , but he kept things going...Stravinsky, Ives, Carter and more.
This dude was my grandfathers teacher, and it is even better knowing he also taught Zappa. Full circle
He never taught Zappa. Where did you get that?
Zappa studied his book Thesaurus
Nicolas Slonimsky was a Classical musician, but a Genius in the armony music. I have his book, and I teach guitar using his precious "theasurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns". Really a Genius, and the Maestro Frank Zappa. Thank you for posting this spreech!
Who would have thought at the time that he would outlive Zappa?
"Music is music" good said! And a wonderful accent - as a german this english is perfect for me to understand ;-)
lol :D
Beautiful man, Nicolas Slominsky. And immortal Frank Zappa, a great inspiration. What can a man do, if he has love, determination, interest in music, such passion to read scores too.
Slonimsky was such a genius! His scales and melodic patterns book is mind-blowing!
I love the way he pronounces Varese. Great recording.
Frank Zappa was the music Mad Scientist .
Slonimsky was more of the scientist thats part of why zappa respected him so much
Zappa, Slonimsky, Varese, Stravinsky and Schoenberg were all the mad scientists of music who truly made it what it could be.
Brilliant. You can feel the friendship there.
Greggary Peccary is truly the historian. Ive always loved his channel....not only for Zappa stuff...but other 20th cent. music that Ive never heard of....
contrary to popular opinion...some black people do love this music,.
Was just learning about this guy and it's really surprising that he was alive recently enough for us to have a recording of him.
There's a video on here now of Slonimsky on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1986. He's hilarious. He said he wanted to be a standup comedian when he was 10 (1904 so IDK).
What a character! If you're looking for an interesting read, get a copy of Slonimsky's autobiography, Perfect Pitch. It's a hoot, full of humorous stories and interesting history of 20th century classical music.
always the same with GreggaryPeccary he doesn't only allow us to discover and enjoy very valuable and rare gems but gives us also very interesting infos on the material.
Thanks for what u do Greg !
What an amazing man ... Beautiful ...
Thank you so much for posting this... Slonimsky is one of the most monumental figures in all of 20th music.
Slonimsky tells this story in his book- Perfect Pitch that also has great stories about being Kousevitsky in Boston
I highly recommend that book - funny and erudite
Frank preferred to devote himself strictly to classical compositions, but he felt he could be more successful as a music artist dabbling in other genres. He was able to do this quite well also. A true original.
Overall, Frank Zappa is among the upper eschalon of sound artists of the 20th Century that most people probably never heard of.
Thank you GreggaryPeccary for the music you are offering.
FZ considered having an "R&B band" his day job and the serious music his hobby, ie., not something to do for a living. finding government funding or an academic position distasteful.
of course he made the band do the serious music or an edited or translated version of it anyway
What resides in this mans chest is the closest thing akin to a heart of gold.
Very nice. Nice lesson
Slonimsky wrote a book called 'The Lexicon of Musical Invective': a compendium of bad reviews of orchestral works including composer's responses to those reviews.
Credit where it's due! I'll be dwelling/diving into Slonimsky's Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns!
Take care!
ps yes I know Varese's work and own the total of his recorded works, compiled by some obscure label!
How wonderful 😀
Zappa was an intellectual.
Indeed.
Two Geniuses
Touching.
my mind is reeling 😢😮❤
This is fantastic. Slonimsky's comments seal Frank's musical reputation.
fantastic, dude! thanks a lot for sharing this stuff
Nice words what anyone wants to hear.
Zappa humorously said he learn all music theory etc. from library/books.
Maybe because no Julliard ha ha.
So go to library...
Where did you get image at 2:30? It doesn't look like a picture, it looks like a still from a film.
Absolute Genious.
Great.
music is One
great
1:14 How is that word spelled and what does that mean?
I think it is onomatopoeia for a cello or something? I don't really know I guess!
I think he just stopped and said “uhhh” for a second before recalling the electric piano he played on
Have you never heard "Aaa..Loo...Aa..Ya..Ooo..a" before?
Come on, dude. Get with it.
There's the real Zelig