Michael Sahl/J. K. Randall split release

Michael Sahl/J. K. Randall - split release

This LP is all about the interaction between violin and electronics. Michael Sahl's "A Mitzvah for the Dead" is on the first side and J. K. Randall's "Lyric Variations for Violin and Computer" is on the other side. Paul Zukofsky performs on violin on both pieces.

About "A Mitzvah for the Dead": The word mitzvah is used in a incorrect way here, but that is the way I grew up using it, to mean an art of philanthropy or benevolence. Strictly speaking, you can't do a mitzvah for the dead or for anybody, because it is a good action which builds you up credit in heaven. The sense in which this piece is a mitzvah for the dead is that is an attempt to come to terms with the music of the dead, and to write the kind of music that might have gratified them, had they heard it.

A Mitzvah for the Dead was given its first performance at the Spencer Memorial Church in Brooklyn Heights, where I was organist in 1967-8.

The tape work for Mitzvah was done at [Morton] Subotnick's studio in the School of the Arts at New York University. (Michael Sahl)

About "Lyric Variations for Violin and Computer": [It] was commissioned by Paul Zukofsky in the summer of 1965; and, after three years of extensive collaboration among composer, violinist, and recording engineer, was completed in the summer of 1968. Since the violin frequently plays several parts simultaneously - and anyway since the piece was conceived as sound emanating solely from two widely separated loudspeakers - there is no distinction between a "live performance" and a "recording" of this piece: in concert, a tape-recording is played through speakers. (J. K. Randall)

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Michael Sahl - A Mitzvah for the Dead: First Movement {7:04}

2. Michael Sahl - A Mitzvah for the Dead: Second Movement {7:58}

3. Michael Sahl - A Mitzvah for the Dead: Third Movement (all electronic) {3:50}

4. Michael Sahl - A Mitzvah for the Dead: Fourth Movement (all violin) {7:16}

Side 2

1. J. K. Randall - Lyric Variations for Violin and Computer {20:07}

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