Ensemble Pieces
Label: Dialogo
Genre: Experimental
$46.99
Availability: In stock
A split album by Christopher Hobbs, John Adams, and Gavin Bryars, released in 1975 as the second title on Brian Eno’s imprint Obscure. The album includes two pieces by Hobbs and one each by Adams and Bryars. Side A opens with the experimental compositions of Hobbs, followed by Adams’ spoken-word and orchestral work, while Side B concludes with Bryars’ dissonant, frontier-classical ambient piece, featuring contributions from Brian Eno and Derek Bailey. “Aran” and “McCrimmon Will Never Return” (1970-72) were composed for the Promenade Theatre Orchestra (PTO), a pioneering group led by White, Hobbs, Hugh Shrapnel and Alec Hill. The ensemble, originally featuring reed organs and toy pianos, later incorporated percussion to create a unique sound. “Aran” was crafted using random note sequences to introduce gentle unpredictability and resonant grit. This 12-performer version softens the original’s rawness.