Blair
Zettl
Classical Guitar
Songbird Music, Inc.
songbird@em.ca
Classical Guitar |
Copyright©1996, 1998
White Syrup Rain - 1998
Creating
a CD must be alot like giving birth.
I write without experience in the case of the latter, but as far as the CD goes you have all the classic parent symptoms prior to the 'big moment': anxiety, patience, work, worry, excitement, irritability, anticipation, self-doubt and so on. After the arrival there is joy - then anxiety, irritabilility, work, self-doubt and so on ... see the parallel?
You will note, that this recording contains both 'classical guitar' and 'classical-folk fusion.' One of the great struggles I experienced in producing this album was how to reconcile these two styles on the same recording. Maybe they don't need to be. After much soul searching I came to recognize that these are both a part of myself as an artist. Anyway, here I am out on a limb.
The title White Syrup Rain is taken from a poem I had written last year. I think it expresses something of what I was going through personally and artistically at the time. Please note any sexual connotations within the title were unintentional. Of course my sister, Lynne, on good authority, tells me that I'm repressed so it's likely expressing some unconscious desire to be uninhibited. (Something to do with Freud's yellow-brick road I think.) Anyway, here it is:
White Syrup Rain
By Blair ZettlLove Came once again today
Oh how I used to fight you!
When you came with your boiling hot syrup
and smothered my being; body, heart and spiritI sitting there full of wonder and sensation
while my heart danced in your sticky riverBut I wanted milk with that Honey:
Sustenance, Breasts, and Love
And you fled!
pulling away with your syrup toffee
leaving me with hanging strands
of shrinking, twisted sweetness
Hungry for sustenanceWAR!
I was silent . Preparing for Battle,
washing the sweet away with brain poisons and
the flesh of others
But that damn toffee would not dissolve!Only today when you came
and bathed me again in your river of syrup,
carrying blue eyes and long hair and youth,
and breasts and laughter and lipsDid I see
That when the river runs dry
and that toffee forms strands of sweet memory
That like weather and the seasons of earth
I must accept you brief gift:
that dry riverbed of love's memory carved deep inside
you will once again fill with your bitter dark chocolate
and white syrup rain.
Now I must say something about all these fine 'classical' composers. Barrios was a really amazing guitarist from Paraguay. He lived and toured throughout South America all his life. He sometimes billed himself as "the Pagannini of the guitar from the jungles of Paraguay." You can hear Bach all over the place in his compositions mixed with that latin influence. He had a deep respect for his ancestors, sometimes dressing as a Guarani chieftain while concertizing.
Lauro was a Venezuelan composer and guitarist. He began his musical career as a pianist, however after seeing Barrios play, he switched his primary instrument to the guitar. He then proceeded to write tons of material for this wonderful instrument. Many of his works have yet to be published.
During his long lifetime the celebrated Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo wrote many pieces for the guitar and other instruments. His Concerto Aranjuez is perhaps the most famous concerto ever written. Tres Piezas Español is based on three Spanish forms. The first and third pieces; Fandango and Zapateado are derived from flamenco forms. The second movement Passacaille is an old baroque form featuring a bass theme which is repeated throughout the whole movement.
Fernando Sor was born and had his early musical training in Spain. He later played and composed in Spain, France, England, and Russia. The full title of his piece recorded herein is: Introduction and Variations on a Theme of Mozart - "Oh Cara Armonia" from the Magic Flute Op.9."
Well on to my music. I Reach For You is pretty self explanatory. Someone pointed out that a "lashing" wouldn't have the effect of "burning our hearts to ash." It's really a double metaphor. I'm referring to the sensation of burning after the lashing, then giving it action. Besides, it rhymes and I'm not changing it. Also, technically speaking, tragedy and disparity don't rhyme. However, when you say them with a prairie accent we say disparidy, cause we rarely say t's. (Say, "I wanna glaz 'a wader cauz i godda chaz da govers oudda da oudous" - translation (mine): I want a glass of water because I've got to chase the gophers out of the outhouse). I rest my case and I'm not changing that one either.
Open your eyes was written for some woman I was hoping would fall in love with me. It never worked. No, I'm not bitter.
A Thousand Voices was based on a poem by Pablo Neruda called "La Vidas" or "Lives," (From: The Captain's Verses by Pablo Neruda, New Directions Publishing, 1972.) It is the only poem I ever read that made me weep immediately upon reading it. It's about a guy who loves this woman so much and ... never mind, I hate explaining poetry. You'd better read it yourself.
Sometimes - similar theme as I Reach For You except offers a solution.
Seven Steps (instrumental) was referred to in my first CD, Circulatio - the one I was writing on the steps on my apartment. It's kind of in a continual state of transformation. Here's the latest version.
Thanks: Mom and Dad for assuring the bank they'd get their money if I became destitute. My multi-talented sister Lynne for her support and good ear and of course for her big sight-unseen order of this CD by the truckload. Milagros for the Translation. Peter for letting me stay with him for free. Thanks to Micheal at The Works for the 'artist's rate' so many times on the hair. Thanks to Jon for the great photos once again.
info & concertos/concerts:
Raphael Segovia
Artscenia Artists Canada
514-279-3472
email rsegovia@axess.com
Valse Venezolano No.2 ..................Antonio Lauro (1917-1986)
Valse Venezolano No.3 (RA 144),
(RA 288)
La Catédral......................................Augustín
Barrios Mangoré (1885-1944)
Preludio
Andante Religioso
Allegro Solemne
Una Limosna por El Amor de Dios (Gran Tremolo)
Vals Op.8, No.4
Tres Piezas Españoles......................Joaquin Rodrigo (b.1903)
Fandango
Passacaglia
Zapateado
Variations on a Theme of Mozart.....Fernando Sor (1778 - 1839)
Seven Steps...................................... Blair Zettl
Thousand Voices (Mil Voces) (RA 144),
(RA 288)
Sometimes
Open Your Eyes
Tearin You in Two
All Tracks recorded edited and mastered @ RADIO UNAM, Mexico City. Produced by Me. © & p All rights of the producers and owners of the works produced reserved. Unaurthorized copying , hiring, lending, public performance and broadcast of this record prohibited.
