iloveshortsongs

Little Orchestra of Disaster and Hope - Dagmar Andrtova (2000)

I don’t know much about this song or Ms. Andrtova I’m afraid, beyond the fact that this track (pulled from Miniatures 2) seemed an appropriate accompaniment to this strange anniversary the nation is having today.

Have a hopeful day, folks.

Minute Quartet - Piero Milesi (2000)

From the sequel to the 1980 Miniatures album compiled by Mott The Hoople keyboard stud Morgan Fisher. We’ve dipped into first volume twice now, but here we have the idea revived in the 21st Century.

Here’s what Fisher’s website has to say of the project:

A full 15 years after the first “Miniatures” album, Morgan decided it was time for a sequel. He thought that with the speed and efficiency of the internet, this new album could be put together in much less time than the first one.

Actually - mainly due to the much more international scope of this sequel - it took six years to complete! But it certainly was worth the effort. This astounding album brings together 60 musicians and creative artists of all genres - contemporary classical, funk-rock, ambient electronic, free jazz, liturgical chant, world techno, etc., etc., - the bizarre, the eccentric, the contemplative, the rebel-rousers, the pioneers, the philosophers (insert a string of “etceteras” here).

Hailing from 18 countries and five continents, each artist expresses their unique message in just one minute (give or take a few bars).

Piero Milesi is an Italian composer who scores films, does arrangements for Italian pop stars. (e.g., Fiorella Mannoia, Luciano Ligabue) He is also a sound artist, generating sound installation pieces.

Here, he seems to attempt to take a long form score for some epic film or dance performance and squeeze all the dramatics into one minute. The rises and falls, the joy and the heartache; it all gets condensed into a wonderful little package.

His work has been called “light, fluent and most attractive” by the London Times. I’d have to be inclined to agree.

Serrons Nous Les Coudes - Patrick Portella (1980)

Another mini-wonder from the Miniatures album compiled by Morgan Fisher. We first heard from it way back in post #5.

I don’t know much about this track or this artist, except that it’s a fun little piece that makes you want to walk swiftly down a corridor, leading with your forehead. Or maybe that’s just my reaction.

Here’s what I do know about Portella:

• He’s French.
• He’s worked with Joseph Racaille, who released an EP entitled 6 Petites Chansons that will have to be investigated.
• He wrote at least one good song.

If anyone has more info on the piece or Patrick Portella, let me know.

Green & Pleasant - Morgan Fisher (1980)

This track comes from the compilation Miniatures compiled by Mott The Hoople keyboard maestro Morgan Fisher. The album is a collaboration between 50 different artists, all making one minute masterpieces.

Here’s the fine man Fisher himself, performing his own bastardized version of the English hymn Jerusalem which depicts Jesus coming to England and establishing heaven on earth there.

A snatch of the original text by William Blake:

I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In Englands green & pleasant Land.

Don’t expect any heavenly chorus from Fisher here, though. This track is a wild and nightmarish tromp that quite literally laughs in the face of the original hymn.

More tracks compiled by Mr. Fisher on Miniatures and Miniatures 2 will no doubt grace the hallowed walls of iloveshortsongs in the near future.

More info on the albums here:

http://www.morgan-fisher.com/discogpages_e/miniatures.html