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![]() ![]() | Teiji Ito King Ubu Genres: Jazz, Special Interest, Classical
Teiji Ito is most famous for his sound work with pioneering filmmaker Maya Deren; but here, on the score for a 1961 production of Alfred Jarry's absurdist classic Ubu Roi (King Ubu), he hits one of his many creative peaks.... more » |
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Amazon.com Teiji Ito is most famous for his sound work with pioneering filmmaker Maya Deren; but here, on the score for a 1961 production of Alfred Jarry's absurdist classic Ubu Roi (King Ubu), he hits one of his many creative peaks. But the score to King Ubu is not used to mimic the intended atrocities within the play. Instead, Ito builds a network of strictly rhythmic whistle sounds and percussion of all types (drawing from Haitian voodoo drumming and Japanese Noh theatre) in order to propel the action along. But when the play launches into the realm of melody and Ito follows, watch out. The familiar is rendered disturbingly and enchantingly unfamiliar: "Beer Barrel Polka" and "Tea for Two" are charming and haphazard, with xylophone, pipe, clarinet, and ukulele twisting brilliantly, lurching and seasick. Which is quite apropos for a play about corruption--of the State and of the body. --Robin Edgerton |
CD ReviewsTeiji Ito died in 1982 but his music did not..... 11/18/1999 (5 out of 5 stars) "Rarely do I pick up a CD and buy it because I was in love with the cover art. I saw Teiji Ito's King Ubu and I knew I had to have it just for the photo. Imagine my surprise when I got it home and played it. I was not surprised that John Zorn served as executive producer. Since King Ubu was composed in 1961, I'm sure John Zorn had to tip his hat to the man who single handedly created this wacky masterpiece. It's hard to classify this music, but it's 4 track classical, indie classical if you will. The liner notes claim Teiji was serving in the army at the time this was composed and he did all composing between 6pm and 2 am. Track #8 is my personal favourite, not only is the imrov brilliant, but it may be one of the funniest pieces ever recorded."
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