Karlheinz Stockhausen "Sternklang" 2xLP (1977) "park music" for five groups

$

30

Baron Elmo proudly presents a classic vinyl set of avant-garde orchestral music from an undisputed master of the genre, German sound-manipulator KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN: Sternklang, the LP version of a piece that was conceived in 1969, composed in 1971, realized in 1975, and issued in this double LP edition in 1977 by Deutsche Grammophon. Sternklang (“Star Sound”), is "park music,” intended to be performed outdoors at night by 21 singers and/or instrumentalists divided into five groups at widely separated locations. The sounds from each performer is separately amplified and projected over loudspeakers. "Sound runners" transport musical "models" from one group to another, while a percussionist stationed at a central position helps synchronise the groups to common tempos at ten points in the piece.  From Stockhausen's liner notes: “Sternklang is sacred music. The composition is written for groups of singers and instrumentalists, which are widely separated from each other spatially. The groups should be able to hear each other, above all, when a group has a pause. The musicians must also be able to regulate the overtones of the played and sung sounds, as these are described exactly. We therefore ask the listening participants to keep the silence that is necessary for the musicians.” The result is positively intoxicating; a rich Brughelian tapestry of sound that achieves a near-psychedelic fervor at times. Top 40 fodder it ain't, but those looking to get their minds blown in a big way will get their wish. Both records are in gorgeous, near-mint shape; clearly, the previous owner treated this copy with care. The cover shows mild handling wear and a few creases, and a dented lower right-hand corner, but is in fine condition.

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Track listing
Sternklang I (34:35)
Sternklang II (30:35)
Sternklang III (33:56)
Sternklang IV (31:29)

*****
 
Sternklang was commissioned by the Sender Freies Berlin and was first performed between 8:30 and 11:30 PM on June 5, 1971 in the Englischer Garten near the Akademie der Künste.

The performers were:

   Group I "Intermodulation"
1. Peter Britton, synthesizer
2. Tim Souster, electric viola with synthesizer
3. Roger Smalley, electric organ with synthesizer

   Group II
1. Gaby Rodens, soprano
2. The second voice was divided between the three others, as the intended musician dropped out.
3. Hans Alderich Billig, bass
4. Harald Boje, electronium with synthesizer

   Group III
1. Helga Hamm-Albrecht, mezzo soprano
2. Siegfried Bernhoft, tenor
3. Michael Vetter, electric recorder
4. Karl Heinz Bottner, electric guitar

   Group IV "The Gentle Fire"
1. Graham Hearn, recorder and synthesizer
2. Stuart Jones, trumpet and synthesizer
3. Hugh Davies, self-built stringed instrument with synthesizer
4. Michael Robinson, cello with synthesizer

   Group V
1. Dagmar von Biel-Apel, soprano
2. Joachim Krist, electric viola with synthesizer
3. Wolfgang Fromme, tenor
4. Peter Eötvös, electrochord with synthesizer

Percussionist: Richard Bernas

Sound director: Karlheinz Stockhausen