Portraits

Various Artists (Artist), The California E.A.R. Unit (Composer, Orchestra), Morton Subotnick (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: The California E.A.R. Unit, Morton Subotnick
• Composer: The California E.A.R. Unit
• Audio CD (November 18, 2009)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: New Albion Records
• ASIN: B000000R2A
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #555,476 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Key to Songs

2. Return - a triumph of reason I

3. Return - a triumph of reason II

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rockin' Subotnick?, February 28, 2001

By 

svf - See all my reviews

This review is from: Portraits (Audio CD)

This is exciting (and yes, even fun!) stuff from pioneering electronic composer Morton Subotnick. If you know him mainly from "Silver Apples of the Moon" days, you'll find his music has taken quite a new direction.

The "Key to Songs" is for synthesizers and live players on strings, pianos, and mallet instruments. The electronic parts and the "live" parts intermingle very convincingly, creating interesting layers of sound. The music itself tends toward traditional tonality, with vigorous pulsing rhythms throughout, interspersed with more dreamy "poems". The repetetive structures and tonal harmonies may bring to mind "minimalism", yet the degree of complexity and musical substance is certainly "maximal". It turns out that much of the melodic material is derived from a Schubert Song, which is quoted directly near the conclusion of the piece. Overall, very dynamic, appealing, and yes, nearly "rockin'" stuff from Morton. (Also check out the Max Ernst surrealistic collage book, "Une Semaine de Bonte", which Amazon carries... amazing!)

"Return" uses similar harmonic and rhythmic techniques, but is entirely electronic (and about twice the length: 40 minutes or so). It was written to commemorate the return of Halley's comet, and takes you on a time-travelling journey across the eons, from primordial sounds, to "dances of destruction", to medieval times, through Boroque, Classical, Romantic, and even Ragtime styles. Overall: engaging, exciting, and impressive. Check it out!

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just buy it now!, January 18, 1999

By 

Stephen L. Mosko (Green Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Portraits (Audio CD)

The incomparable, uniquely overwhleming experience of Morton Subotnick's music never fails to stun the imagination.