The Tortoise

La Monte Young - The Second Dream of the High-Tension Line Stepdown Transformer From the Four Dreams of China (1991) {Gramavision R2 79467}
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© 1991 La Monte Young / Rhino / Gramavision | R2 79467
Classical / Modern Classical / Modern Composition / Experimental / Microtonal

The harmonic version of this piece was completed in 1963 and the current melodic version, played here by The Theatre of Eternal Music Brass Ensemble led by composer-performer Ben Neill, was created in 1984. Like Harry Partch, Ben Johnston and others, Young is known for basing his compositions on alternative tunings, especially "The Well-Tuned Piano" (1964-81), and "The Tortoise, His Dreams and Journeys" (1964-present). In this recorded realization, 8 trumpets with Harmon mutes provide an amazing recreation of the title's sonic experience as they play long sustained tones that beat against each other on four pitches in frequency ratios (of the complete quadrad 18/17/16/12) which "can be isolated in the harmonic structures of the sounds of power plants and telephone poles".

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