Nam June Paik "Works 1958.1979" Sub Rosa SR178 EFA 27658-2 2001 (61:56)
Prepared
Piano for Merce Cunningham 1977 (28:48)
Hommage
A John Cage 1958.59 (4:13)
Simple 1961 (:20)
Duett
Paik/Takis 1979 (25:47)
Etude for Pianoforte 1959.60 (2:48)
Korean born artist Nam June Paik is widely credited as the founder of video art and for over 40 years his work and performances have crossed paths with the Fluxus group and such experimental luminaries as John Cage, Karlheinz Stockhausen and Joseph Beuys. "Works" is the first CD release of Paik's music and it contains 5 tracks spanning 21 years and ranging from 20 seconds to nearly 29 minutes. The first, "Prepared Piano for Merce Cunningham" from 1977, is the lengthiest and is much more atmospheric than melodic. Paik (rhymes with 'cake') improvises on and moves about a de-tuned piano, the majority of the piece composed of dampened lower register notes with an eerie timbre that resembles that of gently struck steel drums. From the 1958-61 period, "Hommage A John Cage", "Simple" and "Etude for Pianoforte" are all short hand spliced tape collages. 'Samples' of varying length - prepared piano, sped-up songs, crying babies, Paik screaming - seem to be randomly, yet skillfully, juxtaposed. "Duett Paik/Takis" is just that, about 26 minutes worth of Paik improvising on piano while Greek kinetic artist Takis performs on his sculptures. By 'perform' I mean sporadically slamming pieces of metal while Paik softly, non verbally hums/sings and quietly plays a pretty but sad song, never breaking concentration despite the very jarring interruptions. It makes for a very strange effect in that an austere beauty is forced to cohabit a space with industrial noise, neither apparently mindful of the other. Oddly enough, for the final 6 minutes Takis audibly bows out and Paik switches to what I'm guessing is a harpsichord for a much brighter conclusion. While the 3 shorter pieces are yet another reminder that someone else has already done most everything that's being done today many years ago, the 2 longer pieces are truly, curiously compelling works of music/art that bear repeated listening ...
Where did I get this cd? - promo.