Search - Cornelius Cardew, QuaX Ensemble :: Cornelius Cardew: Treatise

Brilliant 1967 live recording of QUaX Ensemble's interpretat

Michael A. Duvernois | Minneapolis, MN United States | 08/04/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cornelius Cardew's graphical score "Treatise" is one of the most visually fascinating pieces of music ever made. 193 pages of lines and symbols clustered about the staff. And the simple instructions "For any number of musicians with any instruments, may be performed whole or in part." Recent short takes by Sonic Youth and the Ensemble 303 have perhaps raised awareness somewhat of this score. The best online analysis of Treatise can be found on the "A Young Person's Guide to Treatise" website (just search for it).



Anyway, this recording...well, I'm not sure I agree with such a short take on the Treatise, but that said, the QUaX Ensemble (especially Petr Kotik) were close to Cardew and this recording has generally been accepted as a strong interpretation of the work. This live recording is full of energy, with uninhibited playing, and a certain roughness that, I think, makes formalist works like Cardew's more human, and more "living."



You can hear clips on the amazon item page. Definitely do listen to them!



Technical details:

Recorded live in Prague, October 15, 1967. Performance is unedited.

Petr Kotik, flute; Pavel Kondelik, tenor sax; Jan Hyncica, trombone; Josef Vejvoda, percussion; Vaclav Zahradnik, piano

2 disks: 59:29 & 67:31"