Microfest Records, 2014
Produced by John Schneider
Album Notes via Microfest
Buy or listen to samples via Amazon:
Ben Johnston: Ruminations
I was very excited to receive this new release filled with excellent performances and the intriguing music of Ben Johnston. Guitarist John Schneider is well known for his work with just-intonation and micro-tonality as well as his performances of Lou Harrison, John Cage, and Harry Partch. Schneider has been hailed as “Unforgettable” by the San Francisco Chronicle and “A mind-boggling experience….” – Guitar Player Magazine. His recording of Partch is of particular interest and even landed him a nomination for “Best Classical Compendium” at the Grammys. It is only logical and right that he would be an excellent match for the music of Ben Johnston. Johnston is a composer who has greatly expanded the writing for just intonation and is one of the foremost composers of microtonal and contemporary music in America.
Ruminations is filled with a number of works including a 25 minute song cycle for refretted guitar and voice performed by Schneider, revised jazz standards performed by the Eclipse String Quartet, and a four movement cycle for voice, clarinet, and violin performed by Karen Clark/voice, Jim Sullivan/clarinet, Sarah Thornblade/violin.
The Tavern is filled with mystery, humour, and a wide array of soundscapes. I won’t ramble too much since the composer has made extensive online album notes available via Microfest Records which also includes bios of the performers. Here’s a brief excerpt:
We set out to do The Tavern as a collaboration, because John Schneider knows the guitar as very few (maybe not any) know it. I was long ago convinced that the fingerboard, which is removable and based on deciding upon a set of pitches needed for each particular tuning, ought if possible to become the next step in the history of the guitar in performance. Our work to make The Tavern is a major step toward this goal (Johnston).
As expected, the actual guitar playing on this album is brilliant. Schneider has a mature sense of rhythmic flow as he weaves together various textures and gestures that compliment the vocal part (also performed by Schneider). The micro-tonal guitar sounds right at home in this work which is a testament to Johnston’s experience and comfort with the medium. The text is also wonderful. At times it can very introspective but then suddenly give you a laugh. As the composer explains: “The Tavern is a setting of Coleman Barth’s translation of Rumi. It’s a Sufi idea of what it is to come as a beginner to that particular brand of spiritual discipline and how, in one aspect, it is a lot like getting drunk in a tavern (Johnston).” At the end of the album there is an interview between Schneider and Johnston which is also available online via SoundCloud (embeeded below).
The just-tuned jazz arrangements offer an interesting expansion on jazz harmony and melody. “In my just-tuned jazz, spontaneity is disciplined in a new way so that all players are creating both melodic and harmonic microtonal innovation that can vary greatly in how it affects the listener, but always innovates in both melody and harmony. Both freedom and strictness are asked of the whole ensemble (Johnston).” The other cycle on the album, Parable, also has Sufi origins and so rounds out the album nicely. The work is beautifully written causing Mark Swed of the Los Angeles Times to comment, “The mood is mystical, clarinet and violin often creating quietly ghostly harmonies in high their registers. “
Ruminations is filled with mystery, humour, and performances that will expand your musical horizons. Both general listeners and music buffs will enjoy the works for the curious musical figures and micro-tonal soundscapes, and how it’s all held together by relatable texts, forms, and an overall beautiful and mature aesthetic.
Record Info
Microfest Records, 2014
Producer: John Schneider
Recording Engineers: Scott Fraser, John Schneider
Editing: John Schneider
Mastering: Scott Fraser Architecture
Liner Notes: Bob Gilmore & Ben Johnston
Publishers: all music by Smith Publications, Vermont
Track List
The Tavern (1998) – [25:52]
Text: Rumi, (trans. Coleman Barks)
1. Prelude – :45
2. Who Says Words With My Mouth – 3:41
3. A Community of the Spirit – 2:41
4. A Children’s Game – 6:43
5. The Many Wines – 3:15
6. Special Plates – 3:09
7. Burnt Kabob – 3:13
8. The New Rule – 2:19
John Schneider, voice & microtonal guitar
Revised Standards (1987) – [16:17]
(arr. Johnston)
9. REVISED STANDARDS – 6:33
“How Long Has This Been Going On?”, “Little Girl Blue”
10. SET FOR BILLIE HOLIDAY – 7:01
“Lover Man”, “No More”, “When Your Lover Has Gone”
11. I CONCENTRATE ON YOU – 2:28
(Cole Porter, arr. Johnston)
Eclipse String Quartet
Parable (2000) – [25:59]
Text: Rumi, (trans. Coleman Barks)
12. Prologue – 3:17
13. A Mouse & a Frog – 5:32
14. The Long String – 11:31
15. The Force of Friendship – 8:52
Karen Clark/voice, Jim Sullivan/clarinet, Sarah Thornblade/violin
16. Bonus Track: Johnston on ‘The Tavern’ — 7:20
