John Zorn "On the Torment of Saints, The Casting of Spells and the Evocation of Spirits"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Classical, Avant Prog, Experimental
Label: Tzadik
Release date: November 19, 2013
Tracklist: 
01. The Tempest: A Masque
02. All Hallow's Eve: I. Matins
03. All Hallow's Eve: II. Lauds
04. All Hallow's Eve: III. Vespers
05. The Temptations of St. Anthony

Line-up: 
Jay Campbell: Cello
Clark Carruth: Viola
Claire Chase: Flute
Nathan Davis: Drums, Percussion
David Fulmer: Viola
Crystal Hall: English Horn
Herine Coetzee Koschak: Cello
Matt Monroe: French Horn
Chris Otto: Violin
Jani Parsons: Piano
Joshua Rubin: Clarinet
Karl Rzasa: Bassoon
Melissa Snoza: Flute
Eric Snoza: Bass
Andrew Williams: Violin
Jennifer Woodrum: Clarinet

Description/Reviews: 

Three pieces of magic and religious mysticism performed by a new generation of musical masters! Written as a companion piece to “Walpurgisnacht” (2004), “All Hallows’ Eve” is a tour de force in three movements for string trio—satanic counterpoint for the Witches’ Sabbath. Written as a gift to the ICE ensemble, Zorn wrote “The Tempest” as a musical reading of Shakespeare’s mystical and enigmatic last play. Finally, the virtuosic Chicago-based Fifth House Ensemble performs Zorn’s mini piano concerto in the form of a philosophical dialogue between St. Anthony and his tormentors.

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John Zorn "Lemma"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Classical, Avant Prog, Experimental, Jazz-Rock/Fusion
Label: Tzadik
Release date: February, 2013
Tracklist: 

1. Apophthegms~First Set. No. 1 (1:45)
2. Apophthegms~First Set. No. 2 (1:60)
3. Apophthegms~First Set. No. 3 (2:44)
4. Apophthegms~First Set. No. 4 (1:22)
5. Apophthegms~First Set. No. 5 (2:34)
6. Apophthegms~First Set. No. 6 (2:50)
7. Apophthegms~Second Set. No. 1 (3:40)
8. Apophthegms~Second Set. No. 2 (2:48)
9. Apophthegms~Second Set. No. 3 (2:50)
10. Apophthegms~Second Set. No. 4 (1:20)
11. Apophthegms~Second Set. No. 5 (2:54)
12. Apophthegms~Second Set. No. 6 (3:46)
13. Passagen (14:19)
14. Ceremonial Magic~[Part 1] (5:27)
15. Ceremonial Magic~[Part 2] (4:40)
16. Ceremonial Magic~[Part 3] (6:50)
17. Ceremonial Magic~[Part 4] (4:49)

Line-up: 
David Fulmer: Violin
Pauline Kim: Violin
Chris Otto: Violin

Description/Reviews: 

Zorn’s virtuosic string music is legendary and this CD focuses on his compositions for violin. Two major new works for solo violin—Passagen (based on the legendary B-A-C-H motif) and Ceremonial Magic (which appeared on Rimbaud in a duo realization with drums but here is presented as a virtuoso solo piece); and an enigmatic suite of 12 miniatures for 2 violins entitled Apophthegms. Featuring three incredible young virtuosos: Pauline Kim, David Fulmer and Chris Otto, Lemma is a CD of wildly imaginative string music performed with passion and fiery intensity.

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John Zorn "Filmworks XXV - City Of Slaughter/Schmatta/Beyond The Infinite"

Country: USA
Sub Genre: Jazz-Rock/Fusion, Experimental, Avant Prog
Label: Tzadik
Release date: January, 2013
Tracklist: 
1. The End of Tradition
2. The Oath
3. Modernity
4. Island/Ghetto
5. New Choices
6. Revolution
7. New Currents
8. Loss
9. Hopes and Dreams
10. The Bund
11. City of Slaughter
12. Anti-Semitism/Pogrom
13. Pale of Settlement
14. Requiem
15. Schmatta
16. Pins And Needles
17. Collapse
18. Hanging by aThread
Bonus Track
19. Beyond the Infinite

Line-up: 
Rob Burger: Piano
John Zorn: Piano
Omri Mor: Piano

Description/Reviews: 

The first FilmWorks CD in almost three years (and perhaps the very last in the series) features three radically different musics for solo piano. Commissioned to create music for video installations in Moscow’s Museum of Jewish History, Zorn has responded with a poignant Jewish-tinged score performed here by the virtuosic Israeli pianist Omri Mor. Also included is Rob Burger’s beautiful solo piano performance of Zorn’s landmark composition Beyond the Infinite (from The Goddess) and four rare film cues improvised by Zorn himself for Marc Levin’s documentary Schmatta. An intimate and varied collection of music for solo piano.

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