Counting Languages – Seven Bells

Tom Johnson was born in Colorado in 1939. He received his B. A. and Master of Music degrees from Yale University, and also studied with Morton Feldman. Tom Johnson, composer, performer and writer, is perhaps best known for his operas, particularly The Four Note Opera, which was premiered in New York City in 1972 and which has been produced over 60 times in at least nine different languages. Non-operatic works that have received particular attention over the years include his solo performance Nine Bells, the often played Failing: A Difficult piece for Solo String Bass, and theatrical pieces such as the Scene for Piano and Tape. From 1972 to 1982 Johnson was the new-music critic for the Village Voice. Johnson's weekly columns covered the emergence and development of minimal music in New York City. A large collection of his articles from theat period was published in 1989 by Apollohuis in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, under the title The Voice of New Music Though traveling frequently, his residence since 1983 has been in Paris. "The world is easier to understand," he says, "when viewed from about halfway between Moscow and Washington." This double CD-set is the companion to the final book reporting on the activities of Het Apollohuis. The recordings on these CDs give an idea of the music and the sound art presented in concerts at Het Apollohuis in the priod from 1980 through 1997. Out of a total of 500 performances I chose 38, from which exceprts of varying lenght have been included in this anthiology. These have been arranged in chronological order. The diversity of the selected pieces is characteristic of the programme of Het Apollohuis. Only limited number of composers and musicians who performed can be heard in brief fragments o these discs. Consequently a considerable number has been excluded. There simply was no way to include them all (this selection does not imply we value one above the other). The choice of the particular musicians has been my responsability (P: Panhuysen). liner notes: René van Peer sound selection: René Adriaans mastering: Frank Donkersgoed design: Tom Homburg, Marcel d'Anjou (Opera)