RIP James Tenney

Jon Abbey · August-27th-2006, 12:26 PM

pretty sad, one of the greats. rest in peace, sir.

http://www.artsjournal.com/postclass..._19342006.html

Brian Olewnick · August-27th-2006, 01:04 PM

Ah, too bad. The original plunderphonicist among many other things. Too young.

Paul B · August-27th-2006, 01:26 PM

I know Tenney more by name than by actually knowing his music. Would you or Jon care to give us a short list of recommendations?

Brian Olewnick · August-27th-2006, 01:51 PM

I actually only own two recordings (though I've heard his work often over the years on radio), The "Selected Works 1961-69" on Artifact would probably be the best place to start, especially as it includes both "Collage #1 (Blue Suede), the first "plunderphonic" (before the fact) piece as well as "For Ann (Rising)", possibly his best known work.

Bridge & Flocking on hatNOW is also excellent, two pieces for four pianos.

Jon Abbey · August-27th-2006, 01:54 PM

pretty much anything on Hat Art is really good, Solo Works for Percussion is especially nice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Tenney

Brian Marley · August-28th-2006, 11:22 AM

Brian O is right, Selected Works 1961-69 is a great starting point. It used to be on Artifact but was reissued a few years back on New World Records. Bridge and Flocking is a strange but wonderful experience; the pianos are subjected to various micro-tunings. Almost anything of Tenney's on Hat Art is well worth having, but the aforementioned Bridge and Flocking is a favourite, along with his most recent CD on the label, Pika-Don.

Richard Pinnell · August-28th-2006, 05:57 PM

This is a real shame. I only really discovered Tenney this year following a recommendation from Brian M is for Missionary

Again all the Hats are great, Pika-Don being my favourite I think.

hatta · August-31st-2006, 11:33 AM

Like Richard I also just started listening to Tenney this year. I really like the aforementioned The Solo Works for Percussion on hat[now]ART, especially the last three tracks. These are amazing works, that fans of more pure tone type music will enjoy. There is tam-tam pieces akin to Mark Wastell's recent work, tape-delay stuff that reminds me a lot of Halliwell's sax feedback and just overall brilliant construction. The only other set I have Postal Pieces (1965-1971) on New World is also brilliant though I am still delving into it. Needless to say I already had a list of things I was planning to buy, primarily some of the other mentioned Hat releases. Really a fantastic composer, who will be missed.