Thomas Buckner sings Robert Ashley // Spontaneous Musical Invention 2xLP

This is a rare piece in which American baritone singer Thomas Buckner performs a song by Robert Ashley. A 24-page booklet includes an introduction, score, and performances by Alvin Lucier.

Below is a commentary by the label.

"Recital is proud to present a new double album featuring rarely heard compositions by Robert Ashley, performed by baritone Thomas Buckner.

In the 1960s, Robert Ashley pioneered the American avant-garde with the ONCE group and festivals, changing the face of American opera in the second half of the 20th century. Thomas Buckner ran the impressive 1970 Arch record label in the 80s and '1750s, and spent decades working with countless musicians including Roscoe Mitchell, Anne Lockwood, and the late Noah Kreszewski. He is a famous baritone with whom he has collaborated for many years.

The album's title, Spontaneous Musical Invention, comes from Robert Ashley's instructions to singers in what he called "spontaneous musical invention based on textual declarations."This vocal technique was perfected by Thomas Buckner during his 33-year collaboration with Robert Ashley. Thomas Buckner made his stage debut in Robert Ashley's opera Atalanta in 1984 and remained an integral performer in the ensemble until Robert Ashley's death in 2014.

The album is in two parts, the first of which features a new rendition of Robert Ashley's second opera, Atalanta. Robert Ashley wrote approximately 2 hours of music for the opera Atalanta, divided into three acts: Max for the surrealist painter Max Ernst, and Willard for the composer's uncle, the great storyteller. Willard Reynolds, who was a great jazz pianist and composer, and Bud Powell, who was a great jazz pianist and composer.I want you to compose your version using whatever you like from these 1 hours. During their years of working together, Thomas Buckner asked him to recompose three arias from Atalanta so that he could perform them in concert.So the first section of the album is one of many possible versions of Atalanta.

The second section of the album is titled ``Occasional Pieces'' and includes two previously unreleased songs by Robert Ashley. "When Famous Last Words Fail You" and "World War III Just the Highlights" are not Robert Ashley opera songs.However, each is very dramatic and theatrical.These were written as independent songs for Thomas Buckner. Thomas Buckner's unique vocal cadence mirrors the sharp wit and light delivery of Robert Ashley's libretto.

Portions of this album were recorded live at a Robert Ashley memorial concert held at Roulette in Brooklyn, New York in 2014.Spontaneous Musical Invention essentially serves as a tribute to two extraordinary artists and their decades-long collaboration. "

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2x12" black vinyl. Edition of 350. 
Includes 24 pages 12” x 8.5” booklet of Ashley librettos, scores, & program notes, with an introduction written by Alvin Lucier.

Tracklist:

1. Odalisque (1984-1990) 07:24
2. The Mystery of the River (1991-2014) 12:28
3. The Producer Speaks (1991) 21:03
4. When Famous Last Words Fail You (1997) 19:05
5. World War 3 Just the Highlights (2012) 15:55

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Recital:

"Recital is honored to present a new double album of rarely heard Robert Ashley compositions performed by baritone singer Thomas Buckner.

In the 1960s, Robert Ashley pioneered the American avant garde with the ONCE Group and festivals, before irrefutably changing the face of American opera later in the 20th century. Buckner, in addition to running the fabulous 1750 Arch record label in the 1970s and 80s, is a noted baritone who has collaborated for decades with the likes of Roscoe Mitchell, Annea Lockwood, and the late Noah Creshevsky, among countless others.

The title of the album, Spontaneous Musical Invention, refers to Ashley's method of instructing the singer to do what he called “spontaneous musical invention based on the declamation of the text.” A vocal practice that Thomas Buckner perfected over the 33 years that he collaborated with Ashley. First performing in Ashley's 1984 opera Atalanta (Acts of God), Buckner continued on as an integral performer in the ensemble until Ashley's death in 2014.

The album is composed of two halves, the first is a new rendering of Ashley's second opera Atalanta (Acts of God). Robert Ashley wrote about ten hours of music for the opera Atalanta, divided into three acts: 'Max', for the surrealist artist Max Ernst; 'Willard', for the composer's uncle, Willard Reynolds, a great story teller; and 'Bud', for Bud Powell, the great jazz pianist and composer. One is invited to construct a version using any material from these ten hours. Over the years they worked together, Thomas Buckner commissioned three reworkings of arias from Atalanta that he could perform in concert: the 'Odalisque' aria from Max, 'The Mystery of the River' from 'Willard', & 'The Producer Speaks' from 'Bud'. So this first section of the album is one of many possible versions of Atalanta, yet in strikingly different versions from the originals.

The second section of the album is dubbed Occasional Pieces, and holds two unpublished Ashley works. 'When Famous Last Words Fail You' & 'World War III Just the Highlights' are not from any Ashley opera. However, each is highly dramatic and theatrical . They were written as standalone pieces for Thomas Buckner. Buckner's distinct vocal cadence projects the sharp wit and wry storytelling of Ashley's librettos.

A portion of the record was recorded live at Roulette in Brooklyn, NY, at an intimate memorial concert held for Robert Ashley in 2014. Spontaneous Musical Invention, in essence, functions as a tribute to both exceptional artists, and to their decades of collaboration. "

Artist: Thomas Buckner sings Robert Ashley

Label: Recital