Frank Zappa did Orchestral?

Motzart
Motzart Posts: 1,075
edited February 2009 in Music & Movies
Anyone know of a CD called " Zappa THE YELLOW SHARK Ensemble Modern
"?
Is it REALLY any good?

Found this around the web.....

"Frank Zappa considered himself to be a serious but unschooled devotee to orchestral music,
and took a very avant garde approach to composition infusing his orchestral pieces with jazz
elements, asynchronous metering, and a frenzied, almost chaotic style that was anything but classical
and represented some the most unique and progressive modern orchestral music to date.
Unfortunately, much of Frank Zappa's orchestra compositions had only been rendered to
digitized files and reams of manuscript paper.
Zappa, himself, was very skeptical as to whether his orchestral compositions could be
faithfully rendered by human musicians.
But toward the end of his life, worn down from his bouts with cancer, he was commissioned
by a talented ensemble orchestra from Germany to perform some of his orchestral compositions.
And they along with a gifted conductor named
Peter Rundel were able to bring Frank Zappa's orchestral creations to realization with amazing results."

Yamaha RX-A710 90Watt 7.1
Mains: RTi A1's Center: CS150 Sats: RT15i's Sub: Velodyne DPS-10
Music CD: Sony CDP-CE375 5 Disk
HD TV: Vizio 42" LCD 1080p E420VO
Blu-Ray: Sony BDP-S350
DVD: Sony DVP-NC665P 5 Disk
AV Rack: Sanus Euro EFAB-II Audio Base x2 EFAS-II Audio Expansion Shelf x4
Cables Used: Monster Cable HPD Sony HDMI DLCHE18W
Phones: Sennheiser HD280 Pro
Post edited by Motzart on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
«1

Comments

  • pmckeealaska
    pmckeealaska Posts: 808
    edited January 2009
    I have this album and I like it, though it is unusual and may take some getting used to. There's some funny stuff on there as well, like "Welcome to the United States".
    Music and Movie Rig

    Samsung 40" HDTV 1080p
    LSi25 Front Speakers
    LSiC Center Channel
    LSiFX Surrounds
    Rotel RB 1080 2-Channel Amp
    NAD T763 Reciever
    Denon DVD 2900 Universal Player
    Audiosource 10 Band Digital Equalizer
    Audioquest CV-8 speaker cables
    Audioquest Sub-X subwoofer cables
    Audioquest King Cobra Interconnects
    Monster AVS 2000 Voltage Stabilizer
    Playstation 3 120GB Slim
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited January 2009
    He made all kinds of bad music.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited January 2009
    dorokusai wrote: »
    He made all kinds of bad music.

    Ouch.....but alas, sooooooo true.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • John30_30
    John30_30 Posts: 1,024
    edited January 2009
    Yes, but when he crapped onstage, it was because he intended to.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Motzart
    Motzart Posts: 1,075
    edited January 2009
    Forgive my graphicness but......

    What song/album was it that had a segment that went....

    "rap it rap it up your **** shoot.....coooorm hole" " ?

    Been bothering me for years!
    We laughed like hell when we heard this in high school.
    Matter of fact I was just talking about this the other to one of my buddies.
    When couldn't figure out what song/album it was from.

    Yeah Zappa was a strange dude.....musta been the good drugs at the time! :D

    .

    Yamaha RX-A710 90Watt 7.1
    Mains: RTi A1's Center: CS150 Sats: RT15i's Sub: Velodyne DPS-10
    Music CD: Sony CDP-CE375 5 Disk
    HD TV: Vizio 42" LCD 1080p E420VO
    Blu-Ray: Sony BDP-S350
    DVD: Sony DVP-NC665P 5 Disk
    AV Rack: Sanus Euro EFAB-II Audio Base x2 EFAS-II Audio Expansion Shelf x4
    Cables Used: Monster Cable HPD Sony HDMI DLCHE18W
    Phones: Sennheiser HD280 Pro
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited January 2009
    The album is "Sheik Yerbouty", and it's ram it, not rap it.:) Broken Hearts Are For ****
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • gdb
    gdb Posts: 6,012
    edited January 2009
    I always considered him to be a comedian that happened to add odd bits of dis-jointed & weird music to his schtick (sp?). If he'd ever played a song "staight" without all the fooling around....I never heard it, probably would've sounded good too !
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Motzart
    Motzart Posts: 1,075
    edited January 2009
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    The album is "Sheik Yerbouty", and it's ram it, not rap it.:) Broken Hearts Are For ****

    Thanx William!

    Hard to describe anything Frank Zappa without being....er....uh...graphic! :rolleyes:

    Yamaha RX-A710 90Watt 7.1
    Mains: RTi A1's Center: CS150 Sats: RT15i's Sub: Velodyne DPS-10
    Music CD: Sony CDP-CE375 5 Disk
    HD TV: Vizio 42" LCD 1080p E420VO
    Blu-Ray: Sony BDP-S350
    DVD: Sony DVP-NC665P 5 Disk
    AV Rack: Sanus Euro EFAB-II Audio Base x2 EFAS-II Audio Expansion Shelf x4
    Cables Used: Monster Cable HPD Sony HDMI DLCHE18W
    Phones: Sennheiser HD280 Pro
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mike Kozak
    Mike Kozak Posts: 931
    edited January 2009
    I just ordered it from Amazon, curiosity killed the cat right?
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Motzart
    Motzart Posts: 1,075
    edited January 2009
    Ahhhh yes....the ORIGINAL WeIrD AL.
    Must be where Al got His ideas.

    Mike
    Zappa will keep ya LYAO!!

    Yamaha RX-A710 90Watt 7.1
    Mains: RTi A1's Center: CS150 Sats: RT15i's Sub: Velodyne DPS-10
    Music CD: Sony CDP-CE375 5 Disk
    HD TV: Vizio 42" LCD 1080p E420VO
    Blu-Ray: Sony BDP-S350
    DVD: Sony DVP-NC665P 5 Disk
    AV Rack: Sanus Euro EFAB-II Audio Base x2 EFAS-II Audio Expansion Shelf x4
    Cables Used: Monster Cable HPD Sony HDMI DLCHE18W
    Phones: Sennheiser HD280 Pro
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited January 2009
    Motzart wrote: »
    Ahhhh yes....the ORIGINAL WeIrD AL.
    Must be where Al got His ideas.

    Mike
    Zappa will keep ya LYAO!!

    You should be ashamed of comparing Zappa to Weird Al.

    Zappa wrote amazingly complex compositions, and was an accomplished guitar player. Al just writes new lyrics to other people's music.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mike Kozak
    Mike Kozak Posts: 931
    edited January 2009
    thanks motzart, cannot wait to get the cd
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited January 2009
    Want something that is easy to listen to by Zappa that you can hum to?

    Try "WATERMELON IN EASTER HAY" From Joe's Garage album.

    Zappa played music that he liked. If you liked it all the better, if you didn't it like it he didn't care.

    If you want to try some "easy" to listen to orchestral music by Zappa may I suggest the sound track or movie 200 Motels. The orchestral music is in between lots of other stuff that you my find funny or boring. Lonesome Cowboy Burt. The recording of 200 Motels is controlled by United Artists and needs to be improved but is worth the effort to hear Zappa play the most interesting orchestral music by Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Ringo Starr is the lead actor and the film was made in 1971.

    Surprise yourself, check it out.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hardtail67
    Hardtail67 Posts: 52
    edited January 2009
    WilliamM2 wrote: »
    You should be ashamed of comparing Zappa to Weird Al.

    Zappa wrote amazingly complex compositions, and was an accomplished guitar player. Al just writes new lyrics to other people's music.

    I'm with you. Zappa was a fantastic composer in addition to being one of the best guitar players ever. His potty humor is what captures most peoples attention first. I have 'Yellow Shark' and it is not an easy listen.

    If someone is interested in just his music and not his humor should try 'Hot Rats'. It is mostly an instrumental album.

    Zappa is not for everyone, but the man was a genius. Wierd Al, not so much.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Motzart
    Motzart Posts: 1,075
    edited January 2009
    Hardtail67 wrote: »
    Zappa is not for everyone, but the man was a genius. Wierd Al, not so much.


    No I meant Crazy humor like WeIrD Al.
    By alternative means I'm getting like 4-5 Cd's worth of Zappa in MP3 form. :rolleyes: :D
    I'll hafta checkout some of these other albums mentioned.
    I've never heard any of em.

    Yamaha RX-A710 90Watt 7.1
    Mains: RTi A1's Center: CS150 Sats: RT15i's Sub: Velodyne DPS-10
    Music CD: Sony CDP-CE375 5 Disk
    HD TV: Vizio 42" LCD 1080p E420VO
    Blu-Ray: Sony BDP-S350
    DVD: Sony DVP-NC665P 5 Disk
    AV Rack: Sanus Euro EFAB-II Audio Base x2 EFAS-II Audio Expansion Shelf x4
    Cables Used: Monster Cable HPD Sony HDMI DLCHE18W
    Phones: Sennheiser HD280 Pro
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,781
    edited January 2009
    Motzart wrote: »
    No I meant Crazy humor like WeIrD Al.
    By alternative means I'm getting like 4-5 Cd's worth of Zappa in MP3 form. :rolleyes: :D
    I'll hafta checkout some of these other albums mentioned.
    I've never heard any of em.

    The albums I always recommend to those who have never heard Zappa:

    Overnight Sensation
    One size Fits All
    Joe's Garage Acts I, II, and III
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited January 2009
    Don't forget "Apostrophe"
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Motzart
    Motzart Posts: 1,075
    edited January 2009
    Dunno but I was quite impressed with the Orchestral works.

    Boulez Conducts Zappa and Orchestral Favorites.
    Hafta give a closer listen to The Grand Wazoo...Jazz?
    I listened to s few tracks and like what I heard so far.

    Yamaha RX-A710 90Watt 7.1
    Mains: RTi A1's Center: CS150 Sats: RT15i's Sub: Velodyne DPS-10
    Music CD: Sony CDP-CE375 5 Disk
    HD TV: Vizio 42" LCD 1080p E420VO
    Blu-Ray: Sony BDP-S350
    DVD: Sony DVP-NC665P 5 Disk
    AV Rack: Sanus Euro EFAB-II Audio Base x2 EFAS-II Audio Expansion Shelf x4
    Cables Used: Monster Cable HPD Sony HDMI DLCHE18W
    Phones: Sennheiser HD280 Pro
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mike Kozak
    Mike Kozak Posts: 931
    edited February 2009
    Hardtail67 wrote: »
    I'm with you. Zappa was a fantastic composer in addition to being one of the best guitar players ever. His potty humor is what captures most peoples attention first. I have 'Yellow Shark' and it is not an easy listen.

    If someone is interested in just his music and not his humor should try 'Hot Rats'. It is mostly an instrumental album.

    Zappa is not for everyone, but the man was a genius. Wierd Al, not so much.

    No it is not an easy listen, very different, I got it yesterday and popped it in and................WTF???
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • rayslifecycle
    rayslifecycle Posts: 511
    edited February 2009
    I always considered Zappa a musicians musician.....and he is one of my favorites.

    He was one of the most colorful composers of the 20th century, had fun performing his work, and added some necessary social commentary that would have made the world a better place if people got it.

    Also - the DVD Zappa Plays Zappa, a tribute concert DVD done by his son, Dweezil,, is an outstanding live performance recording........
    http://rayslifecycle.blogspot.com/
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited February 2009
    Mike Kozak wrote: »
    No it is not an easy listen, very different, I got it yesterday and popped it in and................WTF???

    Think of it as expanding your music experience.

    Try Rubin and the Jets, Franks second album and his last ditch effort to be commercial.

    You think that was WTF, try "Help I'm a Rock" from Freak Out.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Mike Kozak
    Mike Kozak Posts: 931
    edited February 2009
    Thanks Bike, I will give them a listen!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,085
    edited February 2009
    If you want to know about all things Zappa, ask EL Grande.....George knows everything there is to know about the maestro.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited February 2009
    I was wondering where the maesto has been in this thread.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited February 2009
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    I was wondering where the maesto has been in this thread.


    I assume he was growing his Zappa mustashe.

    It should be done by now.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • sda2mike
    sda2mike Posts: 3,131
    edited February 2009
    i'm a huge fz fan....i can't listen to maybe 25% of his stuff, tho......i had a period of time there that i needed at least one zappa guitar solo per day....speaking of which: chk out his shut up and play yer guitar!!!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited February 2009
    An interesting thing about Zappa was that during his concerts he always played different versions of his tunes. In fact, if you went to the early and late concert that same tune would sound completely different from the early to late. He would also play 3 to 5 tunes with no break in between tunes. This would mean that there was continious sound for 30 minutes sometimes.

    During one series of concerts he was looking for women's underware, clean or not, from the audence to sew together to make a quilt. I sent up my donation from an ex girl friend. Never saw the quilt however.


    I hope all you Zappa fans got to hear him live.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Motzart
    Motzart Posts: 1,075
    edited February 2009
    The Orchestral Zappa is actually a good listen.
    As for His other music......well lets say it's .....uh.....DIFFERENT!

    But remember from about the same time period......David Bowie was kinda odd as well.
    Zappa was definately a odd Guy.....who would name their Kids Dweezle and Moon?
    Maybe Shrooms and PCP don't mix? :D

    Yamaha RX-A710 90Watt 7.1
    Mains: RTi A1's Center: CS150 Sats: RT15i's Sub: Velodyne DPS-10
    Music CD: Sony CDP-CE375 5 Disk
    HD TV: Vizio 42" LCD 1080p E420VO
    Blu-Ray: Sony BDP-S350
    DVD: Sony DVP-NC665P 5 Disk
    AV Rack: Sanus Euro EFAB-II Audio Base x2 EFAS-II Audio Expansion Shelf x4
    Cables Used: Monster Cable HPD Sony HDMI DLCHE18W
    Phones: Sennheiser HD280 Pro
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Hardtail67
    Hardtail67 Posts: 52
    edited February 2009
    I think Zappa was very anti drug.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited February 2009
    Hardtail67 wrote: »
    I think Zappa was very anti drug.

    He has stated that many times.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter