Tona Scherchen "Shen"

Notes From Philips 6521 030:

TONA SCHERCHEN (born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, in 1938). At the Peking and Shanghai Conservatories studied Chinese music and literature as well as the classical Chinese instrument called the Pi-Pa. At the Salzburg Mozarteum studied dodecaphonic music with Henze (1961-1963); in Paris studied with Messiaen (1963-1965) and for a time with Schaeffer at the Studio de la Musique Concrete; studied composition in Vienna with Ligeti (1966-1967).

SHEN is an attempt to penetrate the mysteries and profundities of life. It presents itself first in the solemn aspect of the RITE, of MYSTERY; to the RITE is opposed its complementary duality, the element of a gay, merry dance. Above the beating of a Chinese drum - like the beating of a heart, the Rhythm of Life - are gradually built up " exterior influences " :

the sound of metal, the sound of membranes

the sound of wood, the sound of grain flowing

the sound of stone, the sound of silence.

The rhythm becomes stronger and accelerates until the explosion - almost Death - of total Ecstasy; there remains only the gentle sound of a little tail wriggling.

The composer of SHEN sought merely to write music; listeners may "interpret" it as they like.

T.S.

LES PERCUSSIONS DE STRASBOURG (6 performers, 150 instruments), founded in 1961 have given 600 concerts, gathered a repertory of 70 pieces, played in 35 countries (in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and South America, in Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Mexico, Canada, and the United States of America), performed at 30 international festivals, and won 5 Grands Prix du Disque.

They were one of the earliest groups to obtain the official recognition of a subsidy from the French Ministry of Cultural Affairs for their activities throughout France as well as aid from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their tours abroad