Strange Strings: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(27 intermediate revisions by 16 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox album
{{Infobox Album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums -->
| Name = Strange Strings
| name = Strange Strings
| Type = Album
| type = Album
| Artist = [[Sun Ra]] and his Astro Infinity Arkestra
| artist = [[Sun Ra]] and his Astro Infinity Arkestra
| Cover =
| cover = StrangeStrings.jpg
| Released = 1967 <ref name="campbell"/>
| alt =
| Recorded =1966, New York <ref name="campbell"/>
| released = 1967<ref name="campbell"/>
| recorded = 1966, New York<ref name="campbell"/>
| Genre = [[Jazz]]
| Length =
| venue =
| studio =
⚫
| Label =[[El Saturn Records|Saturn]]<br />Atavistic
| Producer =Alton Abraham
| genre = [[Jazz]]
| Reviews =
| length =
⚫
| label = [[El Saturn Records|Saturn]]<br />Atavistic
* [[Allmusic]] {{Rating|3|5}} [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3pfoxqqsldte link]
| producer = Alton Abraham
⚫
* [[All About Jazz]] [http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=25744 link]
| prev_title = [[Nothing Is]]
| Last album = ''[[The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra, Volume Two]]''<br/>(1965)
| prev_year = 1966
| This album = '''''Strange Strings'''''<br/>(1966)
| Next album = ''[[Monorails and Satellites]]''<br/>(1966)
| next_title = [[Monorails and Satellites]]
| next_year = 1966
}}
}}
{{Album ratings
⚫
'''''Strange Strings''''' is an album by the American [[Jazz]] musician [[Sun Ra]] and his Astro Infinity Arkestra. Recorded in 1966, the album was released by 1967 <ref name="campbell"/> on Sun Ra's own ''[[El Saturn Records|Saturn]]'' label. The record was reissued on [[compact disc]] by Atavistic in 2007.
|rev1 = [[Allmusic]]
⚫
<blockquote>
|rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r722990|pure_url=yes}} Allmusic review]</ref>
⚫
''''''Strange Strings''''' is a somewhat legendary album from the mid-'60s. "Worlds Approaching" is a great tune, anchored by a bass ostinato and timpani and featuring several fantastic solos... Off and on throughout the tune, Bugs Hunter applies near-lethal doses of reverb, giving the piece a very odd but interesting sound. "Strange Strings" is one of those songs that is likely to inspire some sort of "you call that music?" comment from your grandmother, or even from open-minded friends. It sounds like they raided the local pawnshop for anything with strings on it, then passed them out to the bandmembers. It's difficult to tell if some of these instruments have been prepared in some way, or if they're simply being played by untutored hands. There are also lots of drums and some viola playing from Ronnie Boykins that is also treated heavily with reverb. Despite the cacophony, there is a definite ebb and flow to the piece and what seem like different movements or themes. Whatever you think of the music contained, there's no denying that it produced some of the most remarkable sounds of the mid-'60s. If you don't like "out," stay clear of this one.' Sean Westergaard <ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3pfoxqqsldte All Music Guide]</ref>
|rev2 = [[All About Jazz]]
</blockquote>
⚫
|rev2score = (?)<!--add rating--><ref>[http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=25744 All About Jazz review]</ref>
}}<!-- Automatically generated by DASHBot-->
⚫
'''''Strange Strings''''' is an album by the American [[Jazz]] musician [[Sun Ra]] and his Astro Infinity Arkestra. Recorded in 1966, the album was released in 1967<ref name="campbell"/> on Sun Ra's own ''[[El Saturn Records|Saturn]]'' label. The record was reissued on [[compact disc]] by Atavistic in 2007.

''Strange Strings'' is an oddity in Sun Ra's often discography, featuring his band members performing on [[string instrument]]s they'd never before used.


==A Study in Ignorance==
==A study in ignorance==
After finishing a series of concerts of New York State colleges sponsored by ESP, Sun Ra decided to assemble a number of stringed instruments bought from curio shops and music stores. Ukuleles, Mandolins, Kotos, Chinese Lutes and 'Moon Guitars' were handed out to his reed and horn players in the belief that 'strings could touch people in a special way, different from other instruments.' The point was that the Arkestra didn't know how to play them - Sun Ra called it 'a study in ignorance.'
After finishing a series of concerts at New York State colleges sponsored by [[ESP-Disk|ESP]], Sun Ra decided to assemble a number of stringed instruments bought from curio shops and music stores. [[Ukulele]]s, [[Mandolin]]s, [[Koto (musical instrument)|Kotos]], [[Kora (instrument)|Koras]], [[Pipa|Chinese Lutes]] and 'Moon Guitars' were handed out to his reed and horn players in the belief that 'strings could touch people in a special way, different from other instruments.'<ref name="JFSzwed"/> The point was that the Arkestra didn't know how to play them - Sun Ra called it 'a study in ignorance.'<ref name="JFSzwed"/>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
'Next they prepared a number of homemade instruments, including a large piece of tempered sheet metal with an "X" chiseled on it. Then they miked the Sun Columns.
'Next they prepared a number of homemade instruments, including a large piece of tempered sheet metal with an "X" chiseled on it. Then they miked the Sun Columns.'
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote>
'Marshall Allen said that when they began to record the musicians asked Sun Ra what they should play, and he answered only that he would point to them when he wanted them to start. The result is an astonishing acheivement, a musical event which seems independent of all other musical traditions and histories.... The piece is all texture, with no sense of tonality except where Art Jenkins sings through a metal megaphone with a tunnel voice. But to say that the instruments seem out of tune misses the point, since there is no "tune", and in any case teh Arkestra did not know how to tune most of the instruments...' John F Szwed <ref>Szwed, Space Is The Place, Mojo 2000, p238</ref>
'Marshall Allen said that when they began to record the musicians asked Sun Ra what they should play, and he answered only that he would point to them when he wanted them to start. The result is an astonishing achievement, a musical event which seems independent of all other musical traditions and histories.... The piece is all texture, with no sense of tonality except where Art Jenkins sings through a metal megaphone with a tunnel voice. But to say that the instruments seem out of tune misses the point, since there is no "tune", and in any case the Arkestra did not know how to tune most of the instruments...' John F Szwed<ref name="JFSzwed">Szwed, Space Is The Place, Mojo 2000, p238</ref>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>


==Track Listing==
==Reception==
⚫
<blockquote>''Strange Strings'' is a somewhat legendary album from the mid-'60s. "Worlds Approaching" is a great tune, anchored by a bass ostinato and timpani and featuring several fantastic solos... Off and on throughout the tune, Bugs Hunter applies near-lethal doses of reverb, giving the piece a very odd but interesting sound. "Strange Strings" is one of those songs that is likely to inspire some sort of "you call that music?" comment from your grandmother, or even from open-minded friends. It sounds like they raided the local pawn shop for anything with strings on it, then passed them out to the band members. It's difficult to tell if some of these instruments have been prepared in some way, or if they're simply being played by untutored hands. There are also lots of drums and some viola playing from Ronnie Boykins that are also treated heavily with reverb. Despite the cacophony, there is a definite ebb and flow to the piece and what seems like different movements or themes. Whatever you think of the music contained, there's no denying that it produced some of the most remarkable sounds of the mid-'60s. If you don't like "out," stay clear of this one.' Sean Westergaard<ref>[{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r722990|pure_url=yes}} All Music Guide]</ref>
⚫
</blockquote>

==Track listing==

===12" Vinyl===
===12" Vinyl===
All songs by Sun Ra<br />
All songs by Sun Ra<br />
'''Side A:'''
'''Side A:'''
#Worlds Approaching
#"Worlds Approaching"
#Strings Strange
#"Strings Strange"
'''Side B:'''
'''Side B:'''
#Strange Strings
#<li value="3">"Strange Strings"


===CD Extra Track===
===CD extra track===
#<li value="4">Door Squeak
#<li value="4">"Door Squeak"


==Musicians <ref>From the Atavistic Sleeve notes</ref>==
==Musicians<ref>From the Atavistic Sleeve notes</ref>==
*Sun Ra - electric piano, lightning drum, tympani, squeaky door, strings
*Sun Ra - electric piano, lightning drum, timpani, squeaky door, strings
*Marshall Allen - oboe, alto saxophone, strings
*[[Marshall Allen]] - oboe, alto saxophone, strings
*[[John Gilmore (musician)|John Gilmore]] - tenor saxophone, strings
*[[John Gilmore (musician)|John Gilmore]] - tenor saxophone, strings
*Danny Davis - flute, alto saxophone, strings
*Danny Davis - flute, alto saxophone, strings
*[[Pat Patrick]] - flute, baritone saxophone, strings
*[[Pat Patrick (musician)|Pat Patrick]] - flute, baritone saxophone, strings
*Robert Cummings - bass clarinet, strings
*Robert Cummings - bass clarinet, strings
*Ali Hassan - trombone, strings
*Ali Hassan - trombone, strings
*[[Ronnie Boykins]]: bass viol
*[[Ronnie Boykins]]: bass viol
*[[Clifford Jarvis]] - tympani, percussion
*[[Clifford Jarvis]] - timpani, percussion
*James Jacson - log drums, strings
*James Jacson - log drums, strings
*Carl Nimrod - strings
*Carl Nimrod - strings
*Art Jenkins - space voice, strings
*Art Jenkins - space voice, strings


Recorded New York, 1966 <ref name="campbell">[http://homepage.uab.edu/moudry/disc_a.htm#25. Sun Ra's Discography, R Campbell]</ref> except ''Door Squeak'', 1967.
Recorded New York, 1966<ref name="campbell">[http://homepage.uab.edu/moudry/disc_a.htm#25. Sun Ra's Discography, R Campbell]</ref> except ''Door Squeak'', 1967.


<blockquote>
<blockquote>
“I’m painting pictures of things I know about, and things I’ve felt, that the world just hasn’t had the chance to feel... I’m painting pictures of another plane of existence, you might say, of something that’s so far away that it seems to be nonexistent. I’m painting pictures of that, but it is a world of happiness which people have been looking for or say they wanted, but they haven’t been able to achieve it.” Sun Ra, interviewed by Henry Dumas in 1966 <ref>[http://www.atavistic.com/albums.php?id=269 Quoted on Atavistic Website]</ref>
“I’m painting pictures of things I know about, and things I’ve felt, that the world just hasn’t had the chance to feel... I’m painting pictures of another plane of existence, you might say, of something that’s so far away that it seems to be nonexistent. I’m painting pictures of that, but it is a world of happiness which people have been looking for or say they wanted, but they haven’t been able to achieve it.” Sun Ra, interviewed by Henry Dumas in 1966<ref>[http://www.atavistic.com/albums.php?id=269 Quoted on Atavistic Website]</ref>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>


==Notes==
==Notes==
{{Reflist}}
<references/>

{{Sun Ra}}

{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Strange Strings (album)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Strange Strings (Album)}}
[[Category:Sun Ra albums]]
[[Category:Sun Ra albums]]
[[Category:1966 albums]]
[[Category:1966 albums]]
[[Category:El Saturn Records albums]]
[[Category:Atavistic Records albums]]

Latest revision as of 10:17, 21 June 2023

Strange Strings
Studio album by
Sun Ra and his Astro Infinity Arkestra
Released1967[1]
Recorded1966, New York[1]
GenreJazz
LabelSaturn
Atavistic
ProducerAlton Abraham
Sun Ra and his Astro Infinity Arkestra chronology
Nothing Is
(1966) 		Strange Strings
(1967) 		Monorails and Satellites
(1966)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
All About Jazz(?)[3]

Strange Strings is an album by the American Jazz musician Sun Ra and his Astro Infinity Arkestra. Recorded in 1966, the album was released in 1967[1] on Sun Ra's own Saturn label. The record was reissued on compact disc by Atavistic in 2007.

Strange Strings is an oddity in Sun Ra's often discography, featuring his band members performing on string instruments they'd never before used.

A study in ignorance[edit]

After finishing a series of concerts at New York State colleges sponsored by ESP, Sun Ra decided to assemble a number of stringed instruments bought from curio shops and music stores. Ukuleles, Mandolins, Kotos, Koras, Chinese Lutes and 'Moon Guitars' were handed out to his reed and horn players in the belief that 'strings could touch people in a special way, different from other instruments.'[4] The point was that the Arkestra didn't know how to play them - Sun Ra called it 'a study in ignorance.'[4]

'Next they prepared a number of homemade instruments, including a large piece of tempered sheet metal with an "X" chiseled on it. Then they miked the Sun Columns.'

'Marshall Allen said that when they began to record the musicians asked Sun Ra what they should play, and he answered only that he would point to them when he wanted them to start. The result is an astonishing achievement, a musical event which seems independent of all other musical traditions and histories.... The piece is all texture, with no sense of tonality except where Art Jenkins sings through a metal megaphone with a tunnel voice. But to say that the instruments seem out of tune misses the point, since there is no "tune", and in any case the Arkestra did not know how to tune most of the instruments...' John F Szwed[4]

Reception[edit]

Strange Strings is a somewhat legendary album from the mid-'60s. "Worlds Approaching" is a great tune, anchored by a bass ostinato and timpani and featuring several fantastic solos... Off and on throughout the tune, Bugs Hunter applies near-lethal doses of reverb, giving the piece a very odd but interesting sound. "Strange Strings" is one of those songs that is likely to inspire some sort of "you call that music?" comment from your grandmother, or even from open-minded friends. It sounds like they raided the local pawn shop for anything with strings on it, then passed them out to the band members. It's difficult to tell if some of these instruments have been prepared in some way, or if they're simply being played by untutored hands. There are also lots of drums and some viola playing from Ronnie Boykins that are also treated heavily with reverb. Despite the cacophony, there is a definite ebb and flow to the piece and what seems like different movements or themes. Whatever you think of the music contained, there's no denying that it produced some of the most remarkable sounds of the mid-'60s. If you don't like "out," stay clear of this one.' Sean Westergaard[5]

Track listing[edit]

12" Vinyl[edit]

All songs by Sun Ra
Side A:

  1. "Worlds Approaching"
  2. "Strings Strange"

Side B:

  2. "Strange Strings"

CD extra track[edit]

  2. "Door Squeak"

Musicians[6][edit]

  • Sun Ra - electric piano, lightning drum, timpani, squeaky door, strings
  • Marshall Allen - oboe, alto saxophone, strings
  • John Gilmore - tenor saxophone, strings
  • Danny Davis - flute, alto saxophone, strings
  • Pat Patrick - flute, baritone saxophone, strings
  • Robert Cummings - bass clarinet, strings
  • Ali Hassan - trombone, strings
  • Ronnie Boykins: bass viol
  • Clifford Jarvis - timpani, percussion
  • James Jacson - log drums, strings
  • Carl Nimrod - strings
  • Art Jenkins - space voice, strings

Recorded New York, 1966[1] except Door Squeak, 1967.

“I’m painting pictures of things I know about, and things I’ve felt, that the world just hasn’t had the chance to feel... I’m painting pictures of another plane of existence, you might say, of something that’s so far away that it seems to be nonexistent. I’m painting pictures of that, but it is a world of happiness which people have been looking for or say they wanted, but they haven’t been able to achieve it.” Sun Ra, interviewed by Henry Dumas in 1966[7]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Sun Ra's Discography, R Campbell
  2. ^ Allmusic review
  3. ^ All About Jazz review
  4. ^ a b c Szwed, Space Is The Place, Mojo 2000, p238
  5. ^ All Music Guide
  6. ^ From the Atavistic Sleeve notes
  7. ^ Quoted on Atavistic Website
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Strange_Strings&oldid=1161217588"