@Gary You are obviously a very loyal and dedicated fan of Zappa. However, Frank was never one to be bound by some strict, conformist view of music. He experimented, explored boundaries and that is part of what made him great. I would encourage you to allow others to also experiment and extend the boundaries of music. Lighten up a little and you may be surprised by alternate interpretations.
It's a shame when some modern musicians perform Frank's music, that the so called parachute of artistic intent, at times that's just not up to the composers standards.
Some people tend to like to live in their own airspace, make up their own rules as they go along doing whatever it is that they are doing. Maybe they happen to be musicians by trade. Maybe they are performing another composers music. I for one am not too keen on folks that break Frank's so called rules of artistic intent.
Where you had asked @gary: why don't you get your guitar out and show us how it is done. I am sure we would all gain something positive from your wealth of knowledge of all things Zappa if it was translated into actual playing.
That has never been my intent. As far as me playing guitar it has been sitting dormant for decades. I played in the 70s and by the early 80s it dwindled from 5 minutes a day to hibernation. I actually played for about 3 minutes last summer when Haakon and his father were over my house, little to no time was put into modeling the tone, 5 seconds maybe for what I was playing along to but clearly all I was trying to do was have fun for a few minutes. Not having touched the guitar in over 20 years I was disappointed in my brief effort. I was enthused to go out and purchase myself a Line 6 HD500 Mult-Effect processor back in December of 2011, it sits unopened in the shipping box. When i have time maybe I will have fun again playing the guitar but surely my intent will never to blatantly rearrange FZs compositions. That's just me.
In regards to Frank Zappa the American Composer. He left…Read more
@ Jaws,
Where you had asked @gary: why don't you get your guitar out and show us how it is done. I am sure we would all gain something positive from your wealth of knowledge of all things Zappa if it was translated into actual playing.
That has never been my intent. As far as me playing guitar it has been sitting dormant for decades. I played in the 70s and by the early 80s it dwindled from 5 minutes a day to hibernation. I actually played for about 3 minutes last summer when Haakon and his father were over my house, little to no time was put into modeling the tone, 5 seconds maybe for what I was playing along to but clearly all I was trying to do was have fun for a few minutes. Not having touched the guitar in over 20 years I was disappointed in my brief effort. I was enthused to go out and purchase myself a Line 6 HD500 Mult-Effect processor back in December of 2011, it sits unopened in the shipping box. When i have time maybe I will have fun again playing the guitar but surely my intent will never to blatantly rearrange FZs compositions. That's just me.
In regards to Frank Zappa the American Composer. He left the Canon for any given conductor or performer to follow as a template. I feel it is important to uphold that. Some Classical Ensembles are doing interesting things with FZs arrangements and even at times making arrangement changes but in the rock realm I think it is most important to keep FZs mountain of work with the chisel marks he created. The patern of modern musicians making extreme arrangement changes is just not something I stand, applaud and call for a Hootenanny on. Surely I have given credit to many musicians when they show a basic ability to be in the ballpark of FZs melodic designs but compositions have far more statistical density. When a talented musician can minimally play the basic melody very good, sure that has been noted, sure that is fun for musicians and fans that like that but pointedly a bold disclaimer should be put on that stuff.
Now when I get the guitar up and running again. I am interested in tone development and working on composition. I don't have any composer software, DAW workstation to make my own little orchestra. Even if I did I just don't have the massive amounts of hours required to develop music. I have a family to take care of. Fortunately there are many musicians that have the time to work on music. Sure some have their own version of fun in whatever they do, some rearranging Frank Zappa's music. Talented folks with their own vision not Frank's.....
@gary: why don't you get your guitar out and show us how it is done. I am sure we would all gain something positive from your wealth of knowledge of all things Zappa if it was translated into actual playing.
I see some of the regular folks in the community are quite moved by toilet happenings and new age arrangements of Uncle Meat. While the enthusiasm displayed certainly takes a walk down the road of conceptual continuity, I fear that at times what the composer was doing may be lost if too much focus is given to the basic melody and humor of a lyric and where fans or modern artist take that.
Be it the simplicity of a potty joke or simple melody, I would not state Frank did not work in that realm, Frank used simple hooks to introduce The Black Page. In 1976 FZ created the disco vamp for "The Black Page, Part 2, The Easy Teen-age New York Version" , in 1988 on the Broadway The Hardway Tour it was the New Age Version. In the middle of these new arrangement Frank had a way to keep the statistical density so to speak. There were aspects of the use of percussion in 20tieth Century Music that meant a whole lot to Frank and there is nothing stodgy about that or anyone that expects any new arrangement of the composers works to live up to the composers standards as close as possible. .
There is nothing wrong with a good joke now an…Read more
I see some of the regular folks in the community are quite moved by toilet happenings and new age arrangements of Uncle Meat. While the enthusiasm displayed certainly takes a walk down the road of conceptual continuity, I fear that at times what the composer was doing may be lost if too much focus is given to the basic melody and humor of a lyric and where fans or modern artist take that.
Be it the simplicity of a potty joke or simple melody, I would not state Frank did not work in that realm, Frank used simple hooks to introduce The Black Page. In 1976 FZ created the disco vamp for "The Black Page, Part 2, The Easy Teen-age New York Version" , in 1988 on the Broadway The Hardway Tour it was the New Age Version. In the middle of these new arrangement Frank had a way to keep the statistical density so to speak. There were aspects of the use of percussion in 20tieth Century Music that meant a whole lot to Frank and there is nothing stodgy about that or anyone that expects any new arrangement of the composers works to live up to the composers standards as close as possible. .
There is nothing wrong with a good joke now and then. When it comes to the land of conceptual continuity there is so very much for any Zappa fan do draw upon. When it comes to musicians re-arranging Frank Zappa works. If I hear a decent resemblance of the basic melody that s one thing. certainly have given Dario Vero his due noted accolade for achieving that but it is clear that Dario Vero is in his own arrangement domain. When one does a critical analysis of the nine windows it is clearly evident that he is more so having a fun time than performing anything close to a Frank Zappa arrangement. .Any folk out there that has some outward opinion of me being stodgy on this matter is clearly missing the intent of the composer and how knowledgeable fans understand and give respect to that. For now I am a bit amused by Dario Vero's ability to play the basic melody put on a smile like he was called upon on the Hollywood Squares. I give him credit for comming up with what he did but it s going to take a whole lot more work on any musicians part for me to state he has given respect to the composers intent. If and when Dario Vero can do that , he or any musician, Sure Ill call for a hootenanny!!!!!
D**n I am so very happy FZ heard Varese. What Frank took from that. You can hear that in a piece like Uncle Meat. Unfortunately Dario missed all that in his arrangement.
.
@Gary You are obviously a very loyal and dedicated fan of Zappa. However, Frank was never one to be bound by some strict, conformist view of music. He experimented, explored boundaries and that is part of what made him great. I would encourage you to allow others to also experiment and extend the boundaries of music. Lighten up a little and you may be surprised by alternate interpretations.
Jump in guys - any time - alternative views always a welcome addition.
It's a shame when some modern musicians perform Frank's music, that the so called parachute of artistic intent, at times that's just not up to the composers standards.
Some people tend to like to live in their own airspace, make up their own rules as they go along doing whatever it is that they are doing. Maybe they happen to be musicians by trade. Maybe they are performing another composers music. I for one am not too keen on folks that break Frank's so called rules of artistic intent.
@gary: "A mind is like a parachute. It doesn't work if it is not open."
@davidD:
20 footer...25...was it yellow?
@ Jaws,
Where you had asked @gary: why don't you get your guitar out and show us how it is done. I am sure we would all gain something positive from your wealth of knowledge of all things Zappa if it was translated into actual playing.
That has never been my intent. As far as me playing guitar it has been sitting dormant for decades. I played in the 70s and by the early 80s it dwindled from 5 minutes a day to hibernation. I actually played for about 3 minutes last summer when Haakon and his father were over my house, little to no time was put into modeling the tone, 5 seconds maybe for what I was playing along to but clearly all I was trying to do was have fun for a few minutes. Not having touched the guitar in over 20 years I was disappointed in my brief effort. I was enthused to go out and purchase myself a Line 6 HD500 Mult-Effect processor back in December of 2011, it sits unopened in the shipping box. When i have time maybe I will have fun again playing the guitar but surely my intent will never to blatantly rearrange FZs compositions. That's just me.
In regards to Frank Zappa the American Composer. He left…Read more
@ Jaws,
Where you had asked @gary: why don't you get your guitar out and show us how it is done. I am sure we would all gain something positive from your wealth of knowledge of all things Zappa if it was translated into actual playing.
That has never been my intent. As far as me playing guitar it has been sitting dormant for decades. I played in the 70s and by the early 80s it dwindled from 5 minutes a day to hibernation. I actually played for about 3 minutes last summer when Haakon and his father were over my house, little to no time was put into modeling the tone, 5 seconds maybe for what I was playing along to but clearly all I was trying to do was have fun for a few minutes. Not having touched the guitar in over 20 years I was disappointed in my brief effort. I was enthused to go out and purchase myself a Line 6 HD500 Mult-Effect processor back in December of 2011, it sits unopened in the shipping box. When i have time maybe I will have fun again playing the guitar but surely my intent will never to blatantly rearrange FZs compositions. That's just me.
In regards to Frank Zappa the American Composer. He left the Canon for any given conductor or performer to follow as a template. I feel it is important to uphold that. Some Classical Ensembles are doing interesting things with FZs arrangements and even at times making arrangement changes but in the rock realm I think it is most important to keep FZs mountain of work with the chisel marks he created. The patern of modern musicians making extreme arrangement changes is just not something I stand, applaud and call for a Hootenanny on. Surely I have given credit to many musicians when they show a basic ability to be in the ballpark of FZs melodic designs but compositions have far more statistical density. When a talented musician can minimally play the basic melody very good, sure that has been noted, sure that is fun for musicians and fans that like that but pointedly a bold disclaimer should be put on that stuff.
Now when I get the guitar up and running again. I am interested in tone development and working on composition. I don't have any composer software, DAW workstation to make my own little orchestra. Even if I did I just don't have the massive amounts of hours required to develop music. I have a family to take care of. Fortunately there are many musicians that have the time to work on music. Sure some have their own version of fun in whatever they do, some rearranging Frank Zappa's music. Talented folks with their own vision not Frank's.....
"what we are dealing with here is a perfect engine, an eating machine".
When the big fish bites.....
Muahahahahahahaha~
@Richard Drakes...Indeed. :)
Wouldn't it be cool if the Muzak Corporation licensed some of the music of Frank Zappa and played it in the elevators of the world?
@Mars, No one should misunderestimate (sic) Mr. Jaws.
wow.
@gary: why don't you get your guitar out and show us how it is done. I am sure we would all gain something positive from your wealth of knowledge of all things Zappa if it was translated into actual playing.
I see some of the regular folks in the community are quite moved by toilet happenings and new age arrangements of Uncle Meat. While the enthusiasm displayed certainly takes a walk down the road of conceptual continuity, I fear that at times what the composer was doing may be lost if too much focus is given to the basic melody and humor of a lyric and where fans or modern artist take that.
Be it the simplicity of a potty joke or simple melody, I would not state Frank did not work in that realm, Frank used simple hooks to introduce The Black Page. In 1976 FZ created the disco vamp for "The Black Page, Part 2, The Easy Teen-age New York Version" , in 1988 on the Broadway The Hardway Tour it was the New Age Version. In the middle of these new arrangement Frank had a way to keep the statistical density so to speak. There were aspects of the use of percussion in 20tieth Century Music that meant a whole lot to Frank and there is nothing stodgy about that or anyone that expects any new arrangement of the composers works to live up to the composers standards as close as possible. .
There is nothing wrong with a good joke now an…Read more
I see some of the regular folks in the community are quite moved by toilet happenings and new age arrangements of Uncle Meat. While the enthusiasm displayed certainly takes a walk down the road of conceptual continuity, I fear that at times what the composer was doing may be lost if too much focus is given to the basic melody and humor of a lyric and where fans or modern artist take that.
Be it the simplicity of a potty joke or simple melody, I would not state Frank did not work in that realm, Frank used simple hooks to introduce The Black Page. In 1976 FZ created the disco vamp for "The Black Page, Part 2, The Easy Teen-age New York Version" , in 1988 on the Broadway The Hardway Tour it was the New Age Version. In the middle of these new arrangement Frank had a way to keep the statistical density so to speak. There were aspects of the use of percussion in 20tieth Century Music that meant a whole lot to Frank and there is nothing stodgy about that or anyone that expects any new arrangement of the composers works to live up to the composers standards as close as possible. .
There is nothing wrong with a good joke now and then. When it comes to the land of conceptual continuity there is so very much for any Zappa fan do draw upon. When it comes to musicians re-arranging Frank Zappa works. If I hear a decent resemblance of the basic melody that s one thing. certainly have given Dario Vero his due noted accolade for achieving that but it is clear that Dario Vero is in his own arrangement domain. When one does a critical analysis of the nine windows it is clearly evident that he is more so having a fun time than performing anything close to a Frank Zappa arrangement. .Any folk out there that has some outward opinion of me being stodgy on this matter is clearly missing the intent of the composer and how knowledgeable fans understand and give respect to that. For now I am a bit amused by Dario Vero's ability to play the basic melody put on a smile like he was called upon on the Hollywood Squares. I give him credit for comming up with what he did but it s going to take a whole lot more work on any musicians part for me to state he has given respect to the composers intent. If and when Dario Vero can do that , he or any musician, Sure Ill call for a hootenanny!!!!!
D**n I am so very happy FZ heard Varese. What Frank took from that. You can hear that in a piece like Uncle Meat. Unfortunately Dario missed all that in his arrangement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TStutMsLX2s
@Pope...I can see both those posters adorning the walls of your own bathroom.
Need to stop at Best Buy on the way home and pick up some iron-on transfers
I can see it on a poster, looking across the wall at Frank sitting on another toilet.