Songs and Views of the Magnetic Garden (1975/Catalyst 09026-61823-2 1993) is an album "performed, synthesized, recorded, and mixed by Alvin Curran." Liner notes by Tim Page and Alvin Curran.
"This lush musical landscape, Alvin Curran's first multi-media solo work, intertwines singing and synthesizer, drones and overtones, bells, gamelans, and sounds of nature—a unique tapestry of sound that eloquently introduces a fanciful and original American composer."[1]
"Curran interweaves the sounds of singing, nature, bells, gamelans, and synthesizers into what Page calls 'New Age with brains...he's one composer who can actually organize noise to the point that it becomes music.'"[3]
"Hearing his mid-1970s assemblages Songs And Views of the Magnetic Garden or Fiori Chiari Fiori Oscuri is like peering for the first time into Joseph Cornell's boxed collages."[4]
"Alvin Curran's 'Songs and Views of the Magnetic Garden' was a simmering stew of "found" sounds and minimalism."[5]
The title will also be found as Songs and Views from the Magnetic Garden.
Gli Scariolanti – Italian folksong sung by Margherita Berietti
On My Satin Harp – VCS3 synthesizer, kalimba, sounds of the sea
At Harmony Ranch – Whirling plastic tubes [or hoses], peepers (frogs), "Guido" the dog
Ananda N° 1 – 1975 – Italy
Ananda was an Italian label created in 1976 by the composers Alvin Curran, Roberto Laneri and Giacinto Scelsi. Each record was completely realized and produced by its authors.
Sources
1 2 From the album back. Tim Page and Alvin Curran. Songs and Views of the Magnetic Garden. 1975/Catalyst 09026-61823-2 1993.
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