Peefeeyatko. Bigfoot for "Give Me Some More Apples"
June 21, 2012 5:14 PM   Subscribe

Frank Zappa - Peefeeyatko Documentary covers Frank Zappa's later Synclavier computer compositions. Features Boulez, Xenakis, and a guy who knows Bigfoot personally. Previously
posted by Dr. Fetish (13 comments total) 28 users marked this as a favorite
 
Crikey. For some reason, no more than two or three minutes before you posted this, I was thinking about Zappa playing the bicycle.
posted by George_Spiggott at 5:22 PM on June 21, 2012


(That really should link to the top of the thread: Zappa playing the bicycle, not that grumpy comment.)
posted by George_Spiggott at 5:24 PM on June 21, 2012


Frank Zappa, John Adams, Philip Glass.

I will take a snake for a pet and an amulet..
posted by sensi63 at 5:29 PM on June 21, 2012


In related news.....
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 5:51 PM on June 21, 2012


Thank you for this, by the way. I thought I had consumed all things Zappa but this video is new to me.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 6:00 PM on June 21, 2012


KevinSkomsvold: It's about freaking time. I wonder whether they'll sell digital downloads as well or whether Gail Zappa remains opposed to that.
posted by Songdog at 6:06 PM on June 21, 2012


I wonder whether they'll sell digital downloads as well or whether Gail Zappa remains opposed to that.

Most surprising, the deal apparently covers both physical and digital releases of the albums.
posted by mykescipark at 6:17 PM on June 21, 2012


Songdog: "KevinSkomsvold: It's about freaking time. I wonder whether they'll sell digital downloads as well or whether Gail Zappa remains opposed to that."

From what I've read, Gail abhors digital downloads. Remember when Zappa's entire catalog was on iTunes for about three days and then yanked? I get where she's coming from but I think her process is out of step with the times.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 6:20 PM on June 21, 2012


Back in the mid 1980s, when I was a terrible science major at U.C. Davis, I got to play and record with a Synclavier in my electronic music class. (Dr. Wayne Slawson was in his first year as a professor at Davis, and was just starting to make his imprint on the electronic music program at Davis.) What a neat instrument. It was infinitely programmable, and made all kinds of sounds that I could imagine in my brain. All I had to do was program it. I had heard of the Synclavier at the time, but wasn't really aware of anything mainstream that used it. The Yamaha DX7 came out right around that time, and in popular music overshadowed what I thought were the more creative electronic instruments. Then I bought Frank Zappa's albums that were programmed on it, and suddenly here was someone who was using it's power to control everything as a composer. They're not necessarily my favorite Frank Zappa works, but I think they are pieces that will stand the test of time, and will be played long in to the future along with re-arranged versions of his more popular music. There were practical (money) reasons Frank Zappa chose to work with a Synclavier and a programmer to produce his works, but it also gave him infinite control over the presentation of his compositions. Something we really don't have a record of with other composers over the ages. With them, we're left with written scores, and interpretations by musicians and conductors over the ages. With the Synclavier, Frank Zappa had control over minuscule levels of timing, but also of the timbre of the instruments. I think his approach was genius, and gives us a level of insight to his genius that is impossible to have with other composers.

Thank you for posting this, it's definitely a well-appreciated look back to my music history!
posted by Eekacat at 7:00 PM on June 21, 2012 [2 favorites]


One of the great musical tragedies is that Frank Zappa and Raymond Scott were never in the same place at the same time.
posted by SansPoint at 8:38 PM on June 21, 2012 [1 favorite]


To derail a bit...

Back in the mid 1980s, when I was a terrible science major at U.C. Davis, I got to play and record with a Synclavier in my electronic music class. (Dr. Wayne Slawson...

Hey, I just missed you! I was between jobs c. 1987 and was playing around at the lab, mostly with csound on their Sun workstations. Dr. Slawson's now retired, and his son plays with the Swingin' Utters; I jammed with Spike once or twice. I also knew Rick Blanchard who worked there around the same time...he's no longer with us, but maybe he's hangin' with Zappa, Scott, and Varèse...


One of the great musical tragedies is that Frank Zappa and Raymond Scott were never in the same place at the same time.


I think they are now!
posted by foonly at 1:35 AM on June 22, 2012


Dweezil really should be in charge.....then maybe the Roxy DVD will happen
posted by thelonius at 4:55 AM on June 22, 2012


There are a few albums available for download directly from Zappa.com, and I think the cover albums that Ahmet oversaw were released on iTunes.
posted by Saxon Kane at 3:43 PM on June 22, 2012


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