Four Compositions (Quartet) 1995 Explained

Four Compositions (Quartet) 1995
Type:Live album
Artist:Anthony Braxton
Cover:Four Compositions (Quartet) 1995.jpg
Released:1997
Recorded:August 19, 1995
Venue:Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT
Genre:Jazz
Length:58:02
Label:Braxton House
BH 005
Producer:Anthony Braxton, Velibor Pedevski
Chronology:Anthony Braxton
Prev Title:10 Compositions (Duet) 1995
Prev Year:1995
Next Title:Sextet (Istanbul) 1996
Next Year:1995

Four Compositions (Quartet) 1995 is a live album by composer and saxophonist Anthony Braxton with a quartet, recorded at Wesleyan University in 1995 and released on the Braxton House label.[1] [2] [3]

Reception

The AllMusic review by Brian Olewnick called it "the inauguration of what would come to be known as his Ghost Trance Music. Generally, this subgenre is characterized by a repeated unison melodic line played in evenly stressed eighth notes which wanders somewhat willy-nilly across the scale but is held by at least two of the instrumentalists at any given time throughout the piece. Soloists, to the extent they may be considered as such, offer embroideries on this central stalk only to return to the pattern after a time, allowing others to spin their own elaboration" and stated "Subsequent recordings would offer meatier readings of this aspect of Braxton's work (notably Composition 193 for Tentet), but it's certainly fascinating to witness its genesis here. The colors utilized serve to create a bright and playful atmosphere, a welcome approach to music that had the potential to sound a little dry and academic".

Track listing

All compositions by Anthony Braxton.

  1. "Composition No. 182" – 12:17
  2. "Composition No. 183" – 9:51
  3. "Composition No. 184" – 19:51
  4. "Composition No. 181" – 16:03

Personnel

Notes and References

  1. http://www.restructures.net/BraxDisco/BraxDisco.htm Anthony Braxton discography
  2. http://tricentricfoundation.org/all-releases/braxton-house/four-compositions-quartet-1995 TriCentric Foundation Catalog
  3. http://www.joefonda.com/four-compositions-quartet-1995 Joe Fonda discography