36 Years Ago

36 Years Ago, Vienna 1971—A Student Journal

Day 310: World premiere—Fantasy on Broken Glass

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Vienna 1971—A Student Journal
A year of music, study, travel, sightseeing & friends.



Day 310 — World premiere—Fantasy on Broken Glass
07-Jun-1972 (Mittwoch–Wed.)


TRANSCRIPT

Fantasy concert program

Worked whole day on Mischung—to try and have it ready. Finished the “splicing” mischung but could not make a copy for the concert. Real tired.

So, at the concert, decided to play this mischung, even though it was technically bad, and try to make what balance corrections I could while listening and playing it. Obviously, it couldn’t work out.

The World Premiere. I don’t think anyone really liked it. HA! I was really feeling slightly depressed afterwards.

Went drinking (either to celebrate or drown). Too much but fun! (Against my
control principles.)

Letter from Mary Ann, cousin. Might meet them in Poland.


REFLECTIONS

The mischung. Mischung = the mix. Apparently, I work the entire day to try and come up with a better “mix” version of the piece for the concert. I don’t sound too happy. I don’t make a copy and will play it from my spliced-tape original. That sounds dangerous. What if the tape breaks?

World premiere. Holy cow! I didn’t realize that tonight was the concert of electronic music from the students of Prof. Kaufmann’s class. That surprised me, even though I new it was coming. What surprises me even more is that I think no one liked it. And that I’m depressed. I should be happy! ??? Nothing that a few drinks with the class won’t fix.

fantasy-program-02.jpg

Looking back, I should be happy purely from a technical point of view. It wasn’t easy to create these many, many sound elements from the single sound of a glass. Yes, the work was programmatic and probably “corny” as a result, and it was too long at over 20 minutes. On both counts, it will not be considered a great composition. On the technical side, I think I did a good job. Nice concept as well. I’m sure it was fine.

The opening photo shows the concert program, June 7, 1972. Below is my bio along with some corny statements.

fantasy-program-04.jpg

First composition. This was my first composition, ever. (I am excluding the tiny pieces I wrote at Montclair State.) After hearing Fantasy on Broken Glass once again in 2009 (see Day 313), I think I am happy and proud of my effort.

Cousin Mary Ann. I may meet my cousin Mary Ann in Poland. Now that’s a nice thing as well. Family.

John

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