From: "Steve Smith" <ssmith36@sprynet.com>
I haven't heard the Chinese version or the Acid Mothers version, but I do have one unusual version in my collection, a rock-oriented guitar swarm performance by art-punk band the Styrenes, formerly of the same Cleveland scene that coughed up Pere Ubu and now based in New York. (That one is on Enja, of all labels...) And it would have been really nice if someone had recorded the all-DJ and electronics version at the Lincoln Center Festival a few years ago... Jason Gross, weren't you at that one?
Yes sir, present and accounted for. That was July 2000 for Lincoln Center's Electronic Evolution series. That particular evening was at the Center for Ethical Culture. There was a large ensemble performing "In C," including Pauline Oliveros, Robert Moog and Donald Buchla, turntable crew the X-Ecutioners, and electronic versions of tablas, trumpet, marimba and harp. To be honest, it was a nice tribute but it sounded better in theory than in practice to me. The original is just so sublime. I do appreciate the Bang on a Can version and the Acid Mothers' version is fun. Digging up what I wrote about the Lincoln Center ensemble... " the original recording of Riley's piece -- which consists of musical ebbs and flows leading to a series of climaxes -- is more frenetic and stirring than the live performance (was). The electronic group was much smoother and controlled in comparison. Also, though there was a fascinating range of equipment on display, you only heard each instrument for a few seconds during the introduction; it was a shame to only have these brief glimpses." Granted, the point of the piece is not individual instruments but it seemed like a waste to have an interesting display of them there and not being able to truly appreciate them. Oliveros did a great rendition of "Roll Out the Barrel" in the beginning and the crowd loved it. Best, Jason -- Perfect Sound Forever online music magazine with warped perspectives perfect-sound@furious.com http://www.perfectsoundforever.com