Ultramodern with Ives and Becker
In the beginning of the nineteenth century, the American composers Charles Ives (1874-1954) and John J. Becker (1886-1961) wrote ultramodern music for those days. Contemporaries Ives and Becker shared a warm musical friendship. One of them -Ives- became world-famous, the other -Becker- remained obscure but highly recommended. Together with their colleague composers Henry Cowell, Carl Ruggles and Wallingford Riegger, Ives and Becker made up a group of composers which is called the ‘American Five of Modern Music’. Little has been recorded of the work of John J. Becker, but this year, his intriguing, radical Soundpieces from the thirties and forties have been released on CD. In this episode of Theme, we focus on these works which are mainly for strings. Beside this, you hear music for string quartet of Becker’s important confidant and comrade Charles Ives.
Playlist:
1. John J. Becker:( picture ) ‘Soundpiece No.3’ (1936), for Violin and Piano, on: John J. Becker: Soundpieces 1-7. Conrad Harris (violin) + Joseph Kubera (piano). New World Records 80816-2 CD
2-5. Charles Ives: ‘String Quartet No.1’ (1898-1902), for String Quartet, on: Charles Ives: Complete Music for String Quartet. Leipziger Streichquartett. MDG Gold MDG 307 1143-2 CD
6. John J. Becker: ‘Soundpiece No.2’ (1936), for String Quartet, on: John J. Becker: Soundpieces 1-7. Flux Quartet. New World Records 80816-2 CD
7-9. Charles Ives: ‘String Quartet No.2’ (1907-1913), for String Quartet, on: Charles Ives: Complete Music for String Quartet. Leipziger Streichquartett. MDG Gold MDG 307 1143-2 CD
10-12. John J. Becker: ‘Soundpiece No.4’ (1937), for String Quartet, on: John J. Becker: Soundpieces 1-7. Flux Quartet. New World Records 80816-2 CD
