Joan of Arc (album)
Encyclopedia
Joan of Arc is a 2006 album by mimimalist composer Tony Conrad
. The piece, which lasts unbroken for over an hour, was originally written by Conrad as a soundtrack to accompany Piero Heliczer's like-named short film.
, exemplified by his most famous album Outside the Dream Syndicate
. Joan of Arc instead showcases Conrad's improvisational technique on the pump organ.
The album is one of a series of lost-and-found minimalist recordings released by the independent label Table of the Elements
. Conrad originally recorded the piece in 1968 for the soundtrack to Piero Heliczar's 11 minute short film Joan of Arc. However, he was not aware of the length of the film, so he played continuously for the length of an entire reel-to-reel tape in the hope that it would be enough for Heliczar.
Tony Conrad
Tony Conrad is an American avant-garde video artist, experimental filmmaker, musician/composer, sound artist, teacher and writer...
. The piece, which lasts unbroken for over an hour, was originally written by Conrad as a soundtrack to accompany Piero Heliczer's like-named short film.
Overview
Joan of Arc is something of a stylistic departure for Conrad, who is best known for his work with minimalist violinViolin
The 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....
, exemplified by his most famous album Outside the Dream Syndicate
Outside the Dream Syndicate
Outside the Dream Syndicate is a 1973 collaboration album by United States avant-garde filmmaker Tony Conrad and German krautrock group Faust. The album marks Conrad's first and only musical release for many years, and remains his best known musical work. It is considered a classic of minimalist...
. Joan of Arc instead showcases Conrad's improvisational technique on the pump organ.
The album is one of a series of lost-and-found minimalist recordings released by the independent label Table of the Elements
Table of the Elements
Table of the Elements is an American record label. It concentrates on re-released and specially recorded experimental music, including many of the great avant garde musicians of the 20th and 21st centuries — John Cale, Tony Conrad and La Monte Young, for instance — as well as...
. Conrad originally recorded the piece in 1968 for the soundtrack to Piero Heliczar's 11 minute short film Joan of Arc. However, he was not aware of the length of the film, so he played continuously for the length of an entire reel-to-reel tape in the hope that it would be enough for Heliczar.
Sources
- http://outerspacegamelan.blogspot.com/2006/11/tony-conrad-joan-of-arc-table-of.html
- http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/39266-joan-of-arc