Popol Vuh – Affenstunde (YouTube)
Affenstunde-Popol Vuh (RYM)
Fun Fact: Popol Vuh recorded the soundtrack to Werner Herzog's film Aguirre, the Wrath of God which seems to be available to watch for free on YouTube.
I’m in love with this Vernal Equinox and wonder what other artists or albums shall I listen to in order to enjoy the same sounds and usage of the trumpet?
Thaaaanks
Jon Hassell passed away this past week. He was in his 80s and in failing health for a few years so the news didn’t come as a shock. I’ve listened to a half dozen of his albums, I’m listening to 1978’s Earthquake Island right now, and I still don’t know what I think overall but I wanted to open this thread to discuss the idea of fourth world music. Fourth world music, by Hassell’s definition, is a fictional music created using the music of other cultures. Hassell had bonafides, he had studied all over the world under Karlheinz Stockhausen as well as Pandit Pran Nath. Yet the idea of fourth world music has always rubbed me the wrong way. It’s like the Ancient Aliens thing, it works because Western audiences underestimate the abilities of cultures that aren’t within the Eurocentric historical timeline. “You couldn’t have done that because you are a bunch of primitives”. So is fourth world music an extension of this or does it live outside of this constant Western negation of cultures they don’t understand? Hell, I don’t even like the name. Is the fourth world supposed to be economically poorer than the third world?
Today I read an interesting quote that shed some light on Hassell's thoughts on the increase of ethno-ambient music in the late 80s and 90s, music that followed in his music’s steps. The Enigmas and Deep Forests of the world. He said of the style of music “like a mother bird whose babies have been touched by humans and don’t want to have anything to do with them any more” and also flatly called what these acts do “appropriation”. And yet I still wonder, even if Hassell’s music is made with sincere intent, isn’t it still appropriation? He didn’t make classical Indian music note for note, he bent the rules of different cultural forms of music to fit his aims. When someone else does it poorly, how mad can you really be at them?
I will link a confirmation shortly. But legendary trumpeteer and Fourth Wave-innovator Jon Hassell has sadly passed away.
Edit: Statement from family, courtesy of u/CentreToWave
https://vinylconnection.com.au/2021/06/27/jon-hassell-sonic-explorer/
Does anyone have or have access to "The Vertical Collection"/Bluescreen project. Only 1000 were made and none are available for sale. I'll pay someone for a rip of it, or flac quality files. I don't know where else to look.
It’s a sad day. Some of his subdued brilliance in remembrance.
https://youtu.be/dz40YrNBje4
Joe used Mr Hassell's music:
'Dream Theory' in 'A Landing Strip In The Jungle', 'Case studies', and 'Why I Don't Love You Anymore' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrtLRHJOG7I
'Power spot' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izoW9_oOxh4) and 'Wing melodies' (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCRnj62bFOY) in 'Cocktails Before Dinner'
'Ravinia / Vancouver' in 'Five-part dissonance', https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2i7eR_u5pA
'Brussels' in 'Emerald isle' and 'Lover man' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWEUHYUcps
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/27/arts/music/jon-hassell-dead.html
Thanks to the scholars at jfwiki.org https://jfwiki.org/index.php?title=The_Joe_Frank_Music_Page
