Ethan, these connections are wonderfully observed and will freshen my ears for a new listening excursion. I’m not concerned about direct historical connections since at my age I’ve absorbed enough of them and try to experience all of my music in the moment, where connections are immediate. Well done as usual, and thanks!
My dad was a member of the Gregg Smith Singers, who made some of the first recordings of Ives' choral music, so I grew up with it around the house. (He also tried to organize an Ives festival at CSU Long Beach in 1970 which was thwarted when Reagan closed the CSU system due to antiwar protests.) I ended up doing an arrangement of one of his songs for sextet, which when I submitted it as part of a grant application got dinged by a panel member for "harmonic incoherence." I think Ives would've enjoyed that feedback! https://iancarey.bandcamp.com/track/west-london
I had no idea about your connection with Gregg Smith! He was certainly a big name in our household, and in recent years my dad and his fellow 1960s-GSS alumni girlfriend reconnected and were able to participate in a reunion concert with Gregg. Somewhere I have a collection of letters my dad solicited for his attempted "Charles Ives Holiday" festival from prominent musical and non-musical figures sharing their thoughts on Ives, ranging from composers like Lou Harrison and John Cage to random public figures like George Wallace ("I join you in celebrating that great American, Charles Ives Holiday").
Ethan, I'm curious about something. (And if I'm on the wrong track, I yield to your superior knowledge.) It seems to me that a number of these examples of musical experimentalism would have occurred had Charles Ives never lived. I.e., many of these artists weren't "influenced" by Ives, they arrived on their own at results that remind us of Ives. It might be more accurate in some cases to say, "if you like [jazz musician here], you might also like Ives." No?
Ethan, these connections are wonderfully observed and will freshen my ears for a new listening excursion. I’m not concerned about direct historical connections since at my age I’ve absorbed enough of them and try to experience all of my music in the moment, where connections are immediate. Well done as usual, and thanks!
What is the conference that features this panel?
"Charles Ives and Jazz" which is tomrrow and eventually be on YouTube, I'll post when it's up
Never heard Ives’s music, but I’m gonna now.
My dad was a member of the Gregg Smith Singers, who made some of the first recordings of Ives' choral music, so I grew up with it around the house. (He also tried to organize an Ives festival at CSU Long Beach in 1970 which was thwarted when Reagan closed the CSU system due to antiwar protests.) I ended up doing an arrangement of one of his songs for sextet, which when I submitted it as part of a grant application got dinged by a panel member for "harmonic incoherence." I think Ives would've enjoyed that feedback! https://iancarey.bandcamp.com/track/west-london
OMG Ian that is so amazing!!
I had no idea about your connection with Gregg Smith! He was certainly a big name in our household, and in recent years my dad and his fellow 1960s-GSS alumni girlfriend reconnected and were able to participate in a reunion concert with Gregg. Somewhere I have a collection of letters my dad solicited for his attempted "Charles Ives Holiday" festival from prominent musical and non-musical figures sharing their thoughts on Ives, ranging from composers like Lou Harrison and John Cage to random public figures like George Wallace ("I join you in celebrating that great American, Charles Ives Holiday").
That last line is so funny! 😂
Ethan, I'm curious about something. (And if I'm on the wrong track, I yield to your superior knowledge.) It seems to me that a number of these examples of musical experimentalism would have occurred had Charles Ives never lived. I.e., many of these artists weren't "influenced" by Ives, they arrived on their own at results that remind us of Ives. It might be more accurate in some cases to say, "if you like [jazz musician here], you might also like Ives." No?
you are absolutely right, which is why I specify, "these tracks might relate to Ives." That said, I think most of these people knew something of Ives.