Entrevista a Claude Ballif

31.12.1973

KPFA-FM / Charles Amirkhanian  

French composer Claude Ballif (Paris, 1924 - Poissons, 2004) is interviewed in his Paris home by Charles Amirkhanian (recorded on December 31,1973). Ballif wrote music of enormous strength and clarity. Like his compatriot Messiaen, his music is the result of his deep involvement in Catholicism, a fact which he discusses in the interview. Little known in the United States at the time of this recording, Ballif had produced a highly original and very unified series of works dating back to the mid-1950s. He was a professor of music at the Reims Conservatory and the product of the exciting and turbulent post World War II years of the Western avant-garde which saw the rise of such musical metaphysicians as Pierre Boulez and Karlheinz Stockhausen. But Ballif’s vision was a wide one, and he has shown himself open to a variety of influences stemming from his contact with such widely disparate musicians as John Cage, Boris Blacher, and the quarter-tome composer Ivan Wyschnegradsky, who had worked with Ballif on microtonal theory. Although Ballif’s English is not perfect, he speaks with such intensity and purpose that his meaning is almost always clear, and as such should not prevent anyone from enjoying this interview with a remarkable composer. A selection of Ballif’s music is also heard.

Entrevista a Aaron Copland

DAY AT NIGHT - 20.12.1973
CUNY tv / James Day

CUNY TV's restoring of the classic public television program, "Day at Night", which aired from 1973-1974. In this episode, host James Day talks with composer Aaron Copland (New York, 1900 - New York, 1990). They discuss how Mr. Copland became one of the most distinguished American composers in the world, themes and influences which he used to create some of his most memorable works, how his creations have adapted over the years to reflect the changing times, teachers that influenced him as well as important aspects of composition.

CUNY TV is proud to re-broadcast newly digitized episodes of DAY AT NIGHT, the popular public television series hosted by the late James Day. Day was a true pioneer of public television: co-founder of KQED in San Francisco, president of WNET upon the merger of National Educational Television (NET) and television station WNDT/Channel 13, and most recently, Chairman of the CUNY TV Advisory Board. The series features fascinating interviews with notable cultural and political figures conducted in the mid 1970's. (Taped: 12/20/1973)

Entrevista a Pierre Boulez

21.10.1973

KPFA-FM / Charles Amirkhanian  

Charles Amirkhanian interview the French, avant-garde, composer, and conductor, Pierre Boulez (Montbrison, 1925), following the world premiere performance of his revised (3rd version), “explosante-fixe,” at the Donaueschingen Music Festival on October 21, 1973. In this relatively brief interview Boulez offers his perspective on American composers such as Charles Ives, Henry Cowell, Steve Reich, and John Cage, all of whom he had at least heard of and generally respects, although he admits that his own approach to avant-garde orchestral and electro-acoustic music differs from that of his American counterparts. Boulez also discusses the, just presented, third version of his “explosante-fixe,” which is scored for flute, clarinet, trumpet, violin, viola, cello, harp, and electronics, and describes the type of preparations and rehearsals that were necessary for it performance. Amirkhanian then plays a slightly abbreviated recording of the very same performance, which featured the first chairs of the BBC Symphony Orchestra under the direction of the composer.

The Unanswered Question (Leonard Bernstein, Harvard, 1973)

1.- Musical Phonology
2.- Musical Syntax
3.- Musica Semantics
4.- The Delights & Dangers of Ambiguity
5.- The XXth Century Crisis
6.- The Poetry Of Earth 

Karlheinz Stockhausen: English Lectures (1972-73)

Allied Artists (London, 1972)

1.- Musical Forming
2.- Mikrophonie 1
3.- Moment forming and integration ("Momente")
4.- Intuitive music "ES" (IT)
5.- Four criteria of electronic music ("Kontakte")
6.- Telemusik
7.- Mantra