James Tenney

By zkr director Reinhold Friedl's personal request now available on vinyl for the first time: zeitkratzer's critically acclaimed interpretations of groundbreaking compositions by Jame Tenney (1934 - 2006), who was a composer, music theorist and pioneer especially in the field of microtonal music, being an influential part of the so-called New York avantgarde scene. Besides his compositional work, Tenny was teacher at various universities with students like Charlemagne Palestine, Carl Stone or Catherine Lamb, and a close friend with Eliane Radigue. This album by zeitkratzer presents three compositions by Tenney whose music has been part of zeitkratzer's repertoire since their beginning: # "Critical Band" – Tenney's late classic – with maximum clarity and precision of bearing tone rhythms and microtonal tuning as light effect. # the first recording of "Harmonium #2". Both works demonstrate the remarkable power and resplendent sharpness which Tenney achieved with his microtonal settings. # "Koan: Having Never Written A Note For Percussion" (incl. in the download) is an orgiastic listening experience in the form of a huge crescendo on a tam-tam - from whispering to singing, culminating in shrill roaring and blustering – and it's dark decay.