Zappa’s Stravinsky Borrowings (part 1)

Andre

I recently finished up a draft of a dissertation chapter looking at Zappa use music by Stravinsky. “Status Back Baby,” from Absolutely Free (1967), is the centerpiece of my analysis.: the melodic fragments from Petrushka that constitute the guitar solo in the bridge and the way in which they interact with their new context form a wonderful venue for exploring Zappa’s motivations and intentions. But there are a heck of a lot of other Stravinsky borrowings as well! Zappa borrowed from a number of Stravinsky compositions and did so with remarkable consistency throughout his career. Tracking these moments in his music has been a big part of my research for this chapter.

In a follow-up post, I’ll put up a table of Stravinsky borrowings that appear in Zappa’s music. Román García Albertos’ website, “Information Is Not Knowledge”–the work of a number of contributors including myself–includes an extensive, cross-referenced discography of Zappa’s work. It has been a wonderful resource for tracking musical borrowing. Much of my table is derived from Román’s site, but some of my own observations appear as well.

More importantly, I’ve made an attempt to construct a taxonomy of compositional strategies for how Zappa goes about using this material. Earlier discussions of musical borrowing have tended to use “quotation” as an umbrella term. J. Peter Burkholder has pointed out, however, that “quotation” is but one type of borrowing practice.[1] Burkholder argues that, in order to decipher the intended purpose and implicit meaning of a borrowing, we must understand exactly how it works on a technical level. Categorizing instances of musical borrowing illuminates these technical details. By doing this with Zappa, I’m able to highlight large-scale trends in his compositional history and draw conclusions about what the act of musical borrowing means (to Zappa and to us).

For the most part, Zappa’s various approaches can be accounted for by using terms developed by Burkholder in his work on Charles Ives. [2] The following list paraphrases Burkholder’s terminology, adapting it to better fit Zappa’s music.

  1. Modeling: A work which bears resemblance to its source on a large-scale or structural level. This may be with regards to the textual content, melodic material, or a number of other parameters.
  2. Paraphrasing: An instance in which melodic material is shortened, abbreviated, or otherwise truncated. In most cases, the source material is still highly identifiable.
  3. Arrangement: A rescoring of the musical forces. (Since the borrowings listed in the tables below inevitably require different instrumentation than Stravinsky’s originals, I reserve this term for instances in which no other term applies or where the change in instrumentation is essential to the nature of the borrowing.)
  4. Setting: Providing a new accompaniment for borrowed melodic material.
  5. Medley: An instance of two or more borrowings appearing in close succession.
  6. Quodlibet: A combination of two or more sources simultaneously, often for the sake of humor or ironic juxtaposition.
  7. Stylistic allusion: A reference to a specific work or style, but not necessarily appropriating any traceable melodic, harmonic, or rhythmic material from the source.
  8. Programmatic quotation: Instances in which a quotation (usually melodic) illustrates a part of the text.
  9. Extended paraphrase: An entire work derives its melodic content from a paraphrase of an existing melody.

Of course, not all of Ives’ techniques can be found in Zappa’s work. They are different composers, after all! I’ve omitted the strategies listed by Burkholder that don’t apply.

There are also a couple of techniques that Zappa uses which none of Burkholder’s terms can adequately accommodate. For this reason, I need to supplement the list with some terms of my own:

  1. Riffing: a type of paraphrasing characterized by repetition and the gritty, cathartic feel of a rock guitar solo.
  2. Spontaneous paraphrase: borrowings in improvised music that do not appear to have been premeditated.

In most cases, borrowing in Zappa’s music is never as cut and dried as any one of these strategies would imply. Borrowings are usually characterized by aspects of several compositional techniques simultaneously.

In my next post, I’ll put these terms to use. I’ll provide a table (three, actually!) that will account for most (if not all) instances of Stravinsky borrowing in Zappa’s music. Stay tuned…

References:
[1] J. Peter Burkholder, “The Uses of Existing Music: Musical Borrowing as a Field,” Notes 50.3 (March 1994): 851-870. (Article here.)
[2] Ibid., 854.
Zappa’s Stravinsky Borrowings (part 1)

13,193 thoughts on “Zappa’s Stravinsky Borrowings (part 1)”

  1. spray do zamszu

    cu帽as de novia 2015 pulseras anchas pinterest zapatos de fiesta verde agua p艂aszcz peek cloppenburg naszyjnik z pere艂 hodowlanych gafas para leer calzoncillos uomo hombre faldas largas para gorditas ropa de bebe zara zapatillas catalina danglade reebok…

  2. 丕賱賳馗丕乇丕 丕賱卮賲爻賷丞 毓賱賶 卮賰賱 賯賱亘

    termo posoda 10 l bluza m臋ska adidas essentials m67371 r.xxl inne r vestidos noche color bugambilia vestidos largo 8 en prsten zlat媒 krou啪ek m臋skie okulary korekcyjne oprawki silhouette 0 hvit jul med en touch av bohem 3 sesongs telt tagged tent etui a…

  3. 942837 nike

    sears summer dresses jd williams cocktail dresses rose gold platform wedge sandals mens adidas adilette cloudfoam plus slide sandals spaghetti strap mini dress deals on toddler girl under armour out of this world tee under armour under armour pink heat…

  4. zeus munkav茅delmi cip艖 s3 src

    kompresn铆 pono啪ky ironman recovery 拧perky eshop crawler nè°©u拧nice medenej farby adesivi murali per la cameretta pagina 2 di 2 olalla confezione due canottiere 100 morbido cotone per bambina da 6 a 16 anni ido blu matrimonio maglia sciarpa scialle di piz…

  6. audio k pc

    pinc茅r p茅nzt谩rca b艖r 2 5mm to 3 5mm jack n艖i sapk谩k kalapok cs贸nak hinta bubor茅kf贸lia medence modell aut贸k 4k tv monitornak ppe clothing store v媒啪iva k暮bov mutfak dolaplar谋 mutfak dolaplar谋 ipl6750

  8. chicco nosiljka za bebe za planinarenje

    camiseta lisa verde p sublima莽茫o camisa 100 poli茅ster qual a import芒ncia dos uniformes profissionais para a piso cer芒mico esmaltado borda arredondada mozaic cabo vga p2 usb hdmi kes盲vaatteet lapsille lundhags gneik 34 reppu marimekolta uusi mallisto ja…

  10. party dance ideas

    ajè°©nd茅k æžštletek sz眉let茅snapra f茅rfiaknak jonsered fç–Ÿkasza eladè´¸ kapszulè°©s kè°©v茅f艖z艖k ove bore posebno se razvijaju i produbljuju dok spavamo 拧to wound care market forecast to 2024 water quality in the tropical andes prodotti per le unghie proto膷na pumpa…

  11. casa catalogo online

    sandalias e chinelos ortopedicos desconto brasil nike shox ltr sapato de salto ramarim sapatilhas luxuosas pe莽a para casais pingente s茫o miguel arcanjo onde comprar galocha em campinas arma莽玫es de è´¸culos 2015 feminino quadros a è´¸leo sobre tela cepillo…

  12. moderne skoletasker

    burberry short botines punta cuadrada para hombre modelos de zapatillas salomon para mujer botas nike ni帽a botines con tachuelas mujer bershka costumi da bagno french con decori tienda de vestidos de novia paginas ropa barata por internet faldas largas…

  13. baba kenguru

    ulkoiluvaatteet naiset sonda nazala carnival mask on golden bokeh background copy space stock photo autumn text typography promotional tags autumn promotions womens sport pour le d茅veloppement et la paix mini k茅m kamera tè°©rolè´¸ lè°©da teraszra gyerekjè°©t茅k…

  14. ofertas babolat

    nespravodliv媒 v媒po膷et odchodu do d么chodku po拧kod铆 viac ako 100 nohavice kè°©ro 膷ierne ve木kosé’® 158 comidas rapidas para microondas modelos de zapatos elegantes para mujer guess maletas de viaje slne膷n茅 okuliare solano elegantn茅 dè°©mske ko拧ele s krè°©tkym ruk…

  16. decathlon grip tennis

    cuadrado tallas peque帽as escotado por detrè°©s cola barrida my dress obsesion vestidos vestidos piel en distrito compre maxi vestidos para mujer mono vestido botones zara attrezzo palestra molla per allenamento gambe glutei braccia addominali warmup patr…

  17. dop och doppresent

    纬蠀谓伪喂魏蔚喂慰 位伪蟽蟿蔚尉 尾蟻伪魏伪魏喂伪 伪谓未蟻喂魏维 魏伪蟺苇位伪 shopistas 蟽伪纬喂慰谓维蟻蔚蟼 胃伪位维蟽蟽畏蟼 cubanitas 11 272 blue 蠂蔚喂蟻慰蟺慰委畏蟿蔚蟼 位伪渭蟺维未蔚蟼 魏伪喂 蟺伪蟽蠂伪位喂谓维 伪蠀纬维 蟿伪 谓苇伪 渭伪蟼 superfin r枚d topp abraham sarah jomi heerde feest verhuur

  19. unikornis super shape fè´¸lia lufi

    makita dcl501z akkus porsz铆vè´¸ akku 茅s tæžšlt艖 n茅lk眉l makita amit a svè°©jci frankrè´¸l tudni 茅rdemes lila sz铆nç–Ÿ szat茅n futè´¸ makita duc353pt2 akkus lè°©ncfç–Ÿr茅sz 2db 18v 5ah akku black decker 205 50 marimekko onni kylpypyyhe 70 x 150 cm jalkapallo forssan ykkæžšsl…

  20. gucci gafas de sol cuadradas negro elegante mujeres

    gafas eassun challenge mate negro fluor zapatillas mujer 239 lona anteojos boll茅 6th sense puro objeto de deseo by roberto sunglasses gafas 3d realista vector. rojo tfu994 pmk089 adidas originals superstar festival pack size compre 9 estilos 2019 gafas…

  21. vè°©noce v klidu a bez stresu jde to

    vakum masa啪a protiv celulita izbacivanje toksina akademija sige led storum element ispod umivaonika kupaonski sujetadores cruzados espalda body con manga larga e inserciones de hombre mayor en ropa interior foto malla bikini bombacha culote y cola less…

  22. unique formal dress

    latest under armour womens shoes under armour shoes under armour womens threadborne run long sleeve shirt notre dame football team issued under armour shorts 2xl under armour order football cleats online under armour coldgear big logo pullover hoodie g…

  23. 讙讘讬注 讗讬讟诇拽讬 讬讜讘谞讟讜住 注诇转讛 诇专讘注 讛讙诪专 诪讞讻讛 诇诪讬诇讗谉 讗讜 讟讜专讬谞讜

    accelerate lé…¶pebukse dame phard ræ°“lekker kjole fri frakt name it 29 70 kvadrat store diamanter flyder plakat billige jeans ké…¶b billige bukser og jeans pæ°“ tilbud online 谞讜转谞讬诐 注讘讜讚讛 讬讚讬注讜转 讗讞专讜谞讜转 驻讜讙诇 诪砖注谞转 讙讘 讻专讬转 讬砖讬讘讛 perfect 驻诇讬讝 讚讛 谞讜专转 驻讬讬住 专砖转 住…

  24. xiaomi redmi note 7 hard case mofi

    tommy hilfiger hombre zapatos oxford baratos outlet venta 2018 usb nuevo mochila caliente venta portè°©til bolsas traje de ba帽o adidas infinitex netshoes mx modelos de nike womens baby pink velvet tracksuit cute unicorn letter c design stock vector illus…

  25. jesenne kratke cizmy

    拧krabadlo pre ma膷ky lacno detsk茅 postie木ky najlacnej拧ie nafukovaci matrac claire bijoux home facebook lsn big ideas priv茅 revaux eyewear amazon to illisio oster sale deine kette persæžšnlich antique victorian baltic amber necklace parker black white silk…

  26. detske 拧aty

    lululemon addict another dont hurry be happy photo and new cargo juzo size chart juzo dynamic compression arm sleeve compression wellness wrap around lotus yoga leggings new 2018 mens surf boardshorts quick dry board shorts bermudas masculinas beach sw…

  27. borse ufficio uomo pelle gucci

    rosa adidas fotballsko sykkelbukse med seler arco elite roubaix uten pad herre enzo miccio abiti da sposa patrizia pepe 2015 catalogo offerte famila gilet pelliccia guess sporthose pink heine deutsche fashion online shops 讟讘注转 诪讻住祝 诪砖讜讘爪转 驻谞讬谞讛 诇讘谞讛 rg…

  28. camiseta regata masculina preta

    echt goldkette und 10mm anh盲nger satiniert 333 20er jahre kost眉m set charleston mode gro脽handel neue muslimische frauen spitze abaya kleid s 5xl plus selou junge m盲dchen cartoon hirsch drucken mit kapuze kletteranzug champion obuca patike new ps e publ…

  30. sony beatbox speaker

    pret aparat de ras autè´¸ m茅lylè°©da o ponto frio gillette fusion power proglide styler hair iron flat and curl é‘´?銈枫偋銉笺儛銉?銇娿仚銇欍倎 buy a crimper best hair comb for long hair maquina de costura que borda senukai unitazai rasoir electrique homme avec creme b眉r…

  31. lentes de resina asf茅rica hd 1

    gy枚ngyv谩szon m茅ter谩ru 谩r els艖 trimeszter sport olcs贸 csizma v谩s谩r klucze p艂asko oczkowe neo ubranko do chrztu dla dziewczynki jakie s膮 teraz modne garnitury preparat na komary dla dzieci

  32. darba dro拧墨bas instrukcijas paraugs

    stumjam膩 ma拧墨na super racer hz536 white babymix 姆墨na l膿ti sievie拧u termisk膩 fingerless cimdi ziemas refurbished portat墨vie datori interneta veikals gaisa mitrin膩t膩ji att墨r墨t膩ji sia ivi trans m膩jaslapa vai j奴su muzej膩 ir visi k膩dreiz m奴zikas bledge khal…

  34. dolce gabbana o膷ala dg5040 3148

    zapatos botines plataforma ni帽o en la tienda de juguete que elige la compra imagen de archivo escote profundo de doble realce dè°©msk茅 膷epice levn臎 dream agency aplika膷n铆 v媒拧ivka na sportovn铆 dres tri膷ko desigual t shirt phoebe 膷erny thrasher tri膷ko vint…

  35. sandè°©lia colorida

    kvalitn铆 bavln臎n茅 lo啪n铆 povle膷en铆 zelen茅 barvy s p铆rky high peak atmos 3 kolmen hengen tunneliteltta terra anima en terra anima novi vzorci za mo拧ke bomba啪ne pi啪ame botine albastre elegante chlap膷ensk茅 spolo膷ensk茅 ko啪en茅 topè°©nky 63 膷ierne 賲賱丕亘爻 噩賷卮賷賴 乇…

  36. arreglos de rosas blancas para boda

    toysrus tel茅fono fundas de sofa online sandalias de fiesta azul brankè°©rske rukavice adidas ace control zones fingertip pè°©nska ko啪enè°© spolo膷enskè°© obuv 289 predè°©m loptu na americk媒 futbal od slimak kadernictvo pè°©nsk茅 kopa膷ky adidas messi 16.1 endura humm…

  37. geschenkidee kind 9 jahre

    gute und g眉nstige rasierer haba kinderzelt b眉rste aus wildschweinborsten kleine holzleisten schæžšne abendkleider g眉nstig kaufen beste naturshampoo gaming laptops angebote mixer im test cargo shorts schwarz camicie uomo online letto per i bambini prodott…

  38. rezultati pretrage za h峄 膽峄搉g t瓢啤ng lai bitcoin

    tane膷n铆 teplè°©ky patte tri膷ko puma afc home replica shirt za艡izujete d臎tsk媒 pokoj led pè°©sky modern铆 osv臎tlen铆 z led hrana za ma膷ke whiskas 12 x 100 g liu jo 膷izme za 啪ene zspu grafi膷ki dizajn color box unique f lencer铆a femenina zpæš–sob top sk艡铆艌ka se le…

  41. louis vuitton fashion logo gray iphone 7 plus case

    patinana strass red sole sandal nude new very prive 100 black patent calfskin women shoes christian louboutin louis vuitton porto address monogram titanium bag charm titanium canvas gray yellow name tag dog dog sklepy z wozkami dzieciecymi xbox one xbo…

  42. black under armour spandex

    nike flex trainer 8 womens adidas eqt white azure blue dress dark grey ua taped favorite legging nike nike performance womens volleyball game shorts sale under armour ignite iv slide sandal mens sandals under armour armour heatgear ls comp neon uk shoe…

  43. formazione basket

    coque coach samsung galaxy a7 4g bonnet hilfiger femme diadora heritage sw dirty nike air max 95 miglior prezzo sanfront cuneo costume da mago calvin klein donna slip mariella burani borse articoli sportivi roma costo corallo rosso heine biber bettw盲sc…

  44. guvernul reduce la doar 5 tva ul pentru produsele

    auchan titan terranova rochie si sacou elegante casti stereo beats ieftin 褌褍褎谢懈 薪邪 斜芯谢褜褕芯泄 锌谢邪褌褎芯褉屑械 set 2 mese de cafea din lemn de tec home styling collection mocasini pantofi giuseppe zanotti crystal kevin din piele c膬ciul膬 fete kido 2514 husa silic…

  45. batoh s ko膷kou

    majica sa aplikacijom saten i kristalima calvin klein jeans casual 拧arena patike dè°©mskè°© sukn臎 s vysok媒m pasem igra膷e in igre lego kocke ponuda boje i lakovi zadar top sistem hladnjaci tehnopolis pantalon maternidad juvenil ropa hoy es el d铆a de la madr…

  46. raven ec003s

    adidas basket femme superstar ingyenes blog pampers couches pas cher article publicitaire pour entreprise gym training workout zapatos desigual el corte ingles nike nike air max leather bouchon pour oreille pour dormir

  47. tenis nike morados de mujer

    gonzo pluszaki warszawa na rowerze cropp buty zimowe enceinte amplifi茅e active ping pong rapide asics gel lyte 3 verte jordan concord precio protector iphone 5 carrefour audifonos hasselblad mod

  48. auth mcm logogram shoulder bag camel brown gold leather goldtone

    zapatillas mizuno voley mujer zapatillas de hombre en speedo ba帽ador de nataciè´¸n endurance swimming jd sports 讟讘注转 讗讬专讜住讬谉 住讜诇讬讟专 castro 讘讬拽讬谞讬 诇讬诇讚讜转 castro 注讙讬诇讬诐 爪诪讜讚讬诐 讘注讬爪讜讘 6 注讬讙讜诇讬 讝讛讘 诪讞讜讘专讬诐 注拽讘 驻转讬讞转 讞谞讜讬讜转 讞讚砖讜转 讛讻谞住讜转 拽住讟专讜 讙讚诇讜 讘 11.5 讘专讘注…

  49. lojas shopping park lagos

    kurs z艂ota oral b szczoteczka i irygator hantle ze stojakiem jaka po艣ciel dla alergika srebrne kolczyki cena czarne szpilki 5 cm polski internet sklep pi偶ama damska czerwona czarna sukienka ze z艂otymi dodatkami gatunki tkanin zdejmowanie hybrydy cena s…

  50. elektro maschinen zra膷ni kompresori

    v铆cebarevnè°© propiska harry potter jj sox boxerky 膷ern茅 sportovn铆 lencer铆a y ropa interior de mujer zara online. compara 7 2020 ropa interior sexy para hombre gay lunule lenceria erotica de mujer dè°©msk茅 vè°©no膷n铆 pono啪ky protiskluzov茅 ply拧ovè°© hra膷ka albi…

Comments are closed.