Eastmontage

various artists compilation - Eastmontage

released in 1969

To be honest, the first track "Eastmontage" is the main reason I am posting this album. "Eastmontage" is a musique concrete piece by Hilton Keaton Jones who was a student at the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester and graduate assistant at the time he created "Eastmontage". "Eastmontage" is the entire first side of the LP. The second side of the LP includes performances by student groups. Half of the second side has works by Eastman alumni including notably Chuck Mangione and the other half is by big names such as Bach, Rachmaninoff and Strauss.
It's not that there's anything wrong with the classical favorites, but side two maybe would be more interesting if there were works by the likes of Earle Brown and Luciano Berio for example or at least include only works by the alumni. Some of my visitors would undoubtedly enjoy side two more than I would. Anyway, this LP was primarily for Eastman alumni which would explain the variety of styles.

The Eastman School of Music has a reputation as one of the top music schools in the United States. Here's the liner notes that explain the purpose of this album: Since you spent some of the most important years of your life at the Eastman School of Music, you will have a special appreciation for many of the sounds included in Hilton Jones' composition which was written especially for this recording. These are the sounds of Eastman today: sounds of busy, talented music students and dedicated teachers. The short performances by several of our outstanding student ensembles are sound evidence that the traditional excellence identified with Eastman performers for nearly half a century is alive and well ... and living in Rochester [New York].
Today's Eastman School student is a part of a strong tradition of excellence in every area of music education. He is selected from an impressive number of applicants drawn from all over America. He studies in an atmosphere of intense dedication to his art. His curriculum includes broad opportunities in the humanities in addition to applied music study and sound theoretical training. Among his listeners are artist performers and scholars internationally known for their contributions to the world of music.
Like every educational institution, Eastman is undergoing change: new additions to the faculty and administrative staff, new efforts in the public relations and development areas, new and revised programs of instruction, new facilities for study and research, new opportunities for the study of contemporary music and the never-ending search for improvement of our curricula are some of these areas of change.
Through this recording, prepared especially for Eastman School Alumni, we sincerely hope that a bit of the excitement of the School will help to convey our enthusiasm for the important task of educating the musician of tomorrow here at the Eastman School of Music.


Tracklisting:

Side One

1. Hilton Kean Jones - Eastmontage {13:31}

Side Two

1. Peter Mennin - Canzona {4:42}
performed by Eastman Wind Ensemble

2. Gordon Peters - The Swords of Moda-Ling {6:02}
performed by Eastman Percussion Ensemble

3. Johann Strauss - Champagne Song from "Die Fledermaus" {2:34}
performed by Eastman Opera Theatre and Eastman School Symphony Orchestra

4. Chuck Mangione - Boy with Toys {2:43}
performed by Eastman Jazz Ensemble

5. J. S. Bach - Contrapunctus XIV from "Die Kunst der Fuge" {3:18}
performed by Eastman Trombone Choir

6. Sergei Rachmaninoff - conclusion of Mvt. IV (Allegro Vivace) from the Symphony No. 2 in E Minor, Opus 27 {5:42}
performed by Eastman Philharmonia

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