Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger
Encyclopedia
Boulez Conducts Zappa: The Perfect Stranger is a 1984 album featuring the music of Frank Zappa
, conducted, in part, by Pierre Boulez
. It is also known as, simply, The Perfect Stranger. It was issued on vinyl in 1984 and on CD in 1985 by Angel, and then in remixed and resequenced form on CD by Barking Pumpkin in 1991.
Boulez conducts, specifically, on the three tracks — "The Perfect Stranger", "Naval Aviation in Art?" and "Dupree's Paradise" — which were recorded at IRCAM
, Paris
on January 10 and January 11, 1984, and are performed by Boulez' Ensemble InterContemporain
. The title track was also commissioned by Boulez, and contains references to Zappa's 1971 film, 200 Motels
. The remaining four tracks are credited to 'The Barking Pumpkin Digital Gratification Consort'; in fact, Zappa's Synclavier
. "Outside Now Again" is a Synclavier performance based on a transcription of Zappa's guitar solo in the song "Outside Now" from the 1979 Joe's Garage
album.
Please note that different track timings are probably due to mislisting. There are no reports of tracks being longer or shorter on the original vinyl
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
, conducted, in part, by Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez
Pierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
. It is also known as, simply, The Perfect Stranger. It was issued on vinyl in 1984 and on CD in 1985 by Angel, and then in remixed and resequenced form on CD by Barking Pumpkin in 1991.
Boulez conducts, specifically, on the three tracks — "The Perfect Stranger", "Naval Aviation in Art?" and "Dupree's Paradise" — which were recorded at IRCAM
IRCAM
IRCAM is a European institute for science about music and sound and avant garde electro-acoustical art music. It is situated next to, and is organizationally linked with, the Centre Pompidou in Paris...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on January 10 and January 11, 1984, and are performed by Boulez' Ensemble InterContemporain
Ensemble InterContemporain
The Ensemble InterContemporain is a French chamber orchestra, based in Paris at the Cité de la musique and IRCAM, which specialises in contemporary classical music....
. The title track was also commissioned by Boulez, and contains references to Zappa's 1971 film, 200 Motels
200 Motels
200 Motels is a 1971 American-British musical surrealist film cowritten and directed by Frank Zappa and Tony Palmer and starring The Mothers of Invention, Theodore Bikel and Ringo Starr. The film covers a loose storyline about The Mothers of Invention going crazy in the small town Centerville...
. The remaining four tracks are credited to 'The Barking Pumpkin Digital Gratification Consort'; in fact, Zappa's Synclavier
Synclavier
The Synclavier System was an early digital synthesizer, polyphonic digital sampling system, and music workstation, manufactured by New England Digital Corporation, Norwich, VT. The original design and development of the Synclavier prototype occurred at Dartmouth College with the collaboration of...
. "Outside Now Again" is a Synclavier performance based on a transcription of Zappa's guitar solo in the song "Outside Now" from the 1979 Joe's Garage
Joe's Garage
Joe's Garage is a 1979 rock opera by Frank Zappa. Zappa stated that along with Lumpy Gravy, this album was one of his finest achievements. It was originally released as two separate albums, the first comprising Act I, and the second part as a double-album which made up Acts II & III. All three...
album.
Side one
- "The Perfect Stranger" – 12:42
- "Naval Aviation in Art?" – 2:28
- "The Girl in the Magnesium Dress" – 3:27
Side two
- "Outside Now Again" – 4:06
- "Love Story" – 1:00
- "Dupree's Paradise" – 7:53
- "Jonestown" – 7:07
- All Compositions by Frank Zappa
CD (Barking Pumpkin and Rykodisc editions)
- "The Perfect Stranger" – 12:44
- "Naval Aviation in Art?" – 2:45
- "The Girl in the Magnesium Dress" – 3:13
- "Dupree's Paradise" – 7:54
- "Love Story" – 0:59
- "Outside Now Again" – 4:06
- "Jonestown" – 5:27
- All Compositions by Frank Zappa
Please note that different track timings are probably due to mislisting. There are no reports of tracks being longer or shorter on the original vinyl
Personnel
- Pierre-Laurent AimardPierre-Laurent AimardPierre-Laurent Aimard is a French pianist. He was born in Lyon, where he entered the conservatory. Later he studied with Yvonne Loriod and with Maria Curcio....
– PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Guy Arnaud – Clarinet (Bass)Bass clarinetThe bass clarinet is a musical instrument of the clarinet family. Like the more common soprano B clarinet, it is usually pitched in B , but it plays notes an octave below the soprano B clarinet...
- Lawrence Beauregard – FluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
- Pierre BoulezPierre BoulezPierre Boulez is a French composer of contemporary classical music, a pianist, and a conductor.-Early years:Boulez was born in Montbrison, Loire, France. As a child he began piano lessons and demonstrated aptitude in both music and mathematics...
– Conductor, Direction - Daniel Ciampolini – Percussion
- Antoine Curé – TrumpetTrumpetThe trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
- Ensemble InterContemporainEnsemble InterContemporainThe Ensemble InterContemporain is a French chamber orchestra, based in Paris at the Cité de la musique and IRCAM, which specialises in contemporary classical music....
– Orchestra - Péter EötvösPeter EötvösPéter Eötvös is a Hungarian composer and conductor.Eötvös was born in Odorheiu Secuiesc/Székelyudvarhely, Szeklerland, Transylvania . He studied composition in Budapest and Cologne. From 1962, he composed for film in Hungary. Eötvös played regularly with the Stockhausen Ensemble between 1968 and...
– Musical Director - Jacques Ghestem – ViolinViolinThe violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
- Don Hunstein – Photography
- Marie-Claire Jamet – HarpHarpThe harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
- The London Symphony OrchestraLondon Symphony OrchestraThe London Symphony Orchestra is a major orchestra of the United Kingdom, as well as one of the best-known orchestras in the world. Since 1982, the LSO has been based in London's Barbican Centre.-History:...
- John Matousek – Mastering
- Paul MeyerPaul Meyer (clarinetist)Paul Meyer is a French clarinetist.Meyer is possibly the most well-known contemporary solo clarinetist from France. He is known for his solo recordings on the Denon label, notably in collaborations with Jean-Pierre Rampal and Eric Le Sage. He studied at the Paris Conservatoire and at the Basler...
– ClarinetClarinetThe clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed... - Jerôme Naulais – TromboneTromboneThe trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
- David Ocker – Programming
- Bob Stone – Remixing
- Frank ZappaFrank ZappaFrank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
– SynclavierSynclavierThe Synclavier System was an early digital synthesizer, polyphonic digital sampling system, and music workstation, manufactured by New England Digital Corporation, Norwich, VT. The original design and development of the Synclavier prototype occurred at Dartmouth College with the collaboration of...
, Producer, Liner Notes