“The Counsel of a Veteran”; Zappa’s letter to Varèse

Andre, ,

In interviews, Zappa frequently recalled his fifteenth birthday when, in lieu of any gifts, he requested permission to make a long distance phone call. Following some lead–he claims it was a hunch, deducing that “a person who looked like a mad scientist could only live in a place called Greenwich Village” [1]–Zappa found Varèse’s phone number and address by dialing New York information.

His obsession with The Complete Works of Edgard Varèse, Vol. I had grown to the point of seeking out the composer himself. His timing, however, was less than ideal and the older composer was away. Louise Varèse informed Zappa that Edgard was in Brussels working on a composition–Poème électronique–for the World’s Fair, and suggested he call again in a few weeks. [2]

I did. I don’t remember what I said to him exactly, but it was something like: “I really dig your music.” He told me he was working on a new piece called Deserts. This thrilled me quite a bit since I was living in Lancaster, California then. When you’re fifteen and living in the Mojave Desert and find out that the world’s greatest composer, somewhere in a secret Greenwich Village laboratory, is working on a song about your “home town” you can get pretty excited. It seemed a great tragedy that nobody in Palmdale or Rosamond would care if they ever heard it. I still think Deserts is about Lancaster, even if the liner notes on the Columbia LP say it’s something more philosophical. [3]

Zappa spent the summer of 1957 with an aunt in Baltimore. Recalling a casual offer from their telephone conversation, Zappa wrote to Varèse letting him know that he was “in the area” and would like to make a side trip to Greenwich Village. The reply, dated July 12, 1957 (actually August 12, 1957 [4]) read:

Dear Mr. Zappa,

I am sorry not to be able to grant your request. I am leaving for Europe next week and will be gone until next spring. I am hoping however to see you on my return. With best wishes.

Sincerely
Edgard Varèse [5]

Unfortunately, the two composers never did meet in person. Zappa, of course, framed the letter and hung it on his wall–another relic for his collection.

Varèse’s response has been reprinted in a number of publications including Zappa’s autobiography and a tribute article he wrote for Stereo Review entitled “Edgard Varèse: Idol of My Youth.” Zappa’s initial letter to Varèse, on the other hand, is rarely mentioned.

Recently, I came across a catalog for an exhibition of Varèse-related items housed at the Paul Sacher Stiftung in Basel Switzerland. One of the items was young Frank’s letter, which Varèse seems to have kept over the years. The letter, sent in early August 1957, consists of two typewritten pages (27.8 x 21.2 cm). I’ve never seen the text of the letter printed anywhere else, so I thought I could put it up here.

The text of the letter is as follows:

Mr. Edgard Varèse

188 Sullivan St.

New York, New York

Dear Sir:

Perhaps you might remember me from my stupid phone call last January, if
not, my name again is Frank Zappa Jr. I am 16 years old… that might explain
partly my disturbing you last winter.

The reason for my letter at this time is that I am visiting relatives in
Baltimore and as long as I am on the east Coast I hope I can get to see you.

It might seem strange but ever since I was 13 I have been interested in your
music. The whole thing stems from the time when the keeper of this little
record store sold me your album “The Complete Works of Edgard Varèse, Vol.
1.” The only reason I knew it existed was that an article in either LOOK or
the POST mentioned it as being noisy and unmusical and only good for trying
out the sound systems in high fidelity units (referring to your
“IONISATIONS” [sic]). I don’t know how the store I got it from ever
obtained it, but, after several hearings, I became curious and bought it for
$5.40, which, at the time[,] seemed awfully high and[,] being so young, kept
me broke for three weeks. Now I wouldn’t trade it for anything and I am
looking around for another copy as the one I have is very worn and scratchy.

After I had struggled through Mr. Finklestein’s [recte: Finkelstein’s] notes
on the back cover (I really did struggle too, for at the time I had had no
training in music other than practice at drum rudiments) I became more and
more interested in you and your music. I began to go to the library and take
out books on modern composers and modern music, to learn all I could about
Edgard Varèse. It got to be my best subject (your life) and I began writing
my reports and term papers on you at school. At one time when my history
teacher asked us to write on an American that has really done something for
the U.S.A. I wrote on you and the Pan American Composers League [sic] and
the New Symphony. I failed. The teacher had never heard of you and said I
made the whole thing up. Silly but true. That was my Sophomore year in high
school.

Throughout my life all the talents and abilities that God has left me with
have been self developed, and when the time came for Frank to learn how to
read and write music, Frank taught himself that too. I picked it all up from
the library.

I have been composing for two years now, utilizing a strict twelve-tone
technique, producing effects that are reminiscent of Anton Webern.

During those two years I have written two short woodwind quartets and a
short symphony for winds, brass and percussion.

Recently I have been earning my keep at home with my blues band, the
BLACKOUTS. We have done quite well and in my association with my fellow
musicians I am learning to play other instruments besides drums.

I paint in oils and watercolor and last year produced a cartoon film in
school by painting color directly onto a 250 foot reel of cleared 16 mm
moving film. I painted on the color in such a way that I managed to closely,
but not completely, synchronize their movements to your “DENSITY 21.5” and
the second “movement” of “OCTANDRE”. It brought about some amazing results
from the audience and my counselors in the office allowed me to make a trip
I had planned to Walt Disney studios with the film.

Nothing ever came of my trip, but when I got back to school I was informed I
had a chance to be skipped from the Junior year in high school to the
Freshman year at the junior college which adjoined the school as an
experiment..

I went to the Jaycee and studied harmony and music appreciation and history
for one semester and came out of it with A’s and B’s.

I plan to go on and be a composer after college and I could really use the
counsel of a veteran such as you. If you would allow me to visit with you
for even a few hours it would be greatly appreciated.

It may sound strange but I think I have something to offer you in the way of
new ideas. One is an elaboration on the principle of Ruth Seeger’s
contrapuntal dynamics and the other is an extension of the twelve-tone
technique which I call the inversion square. It enables one to compose
harmonically constructed pantonal music in logical patterns and progressions
while still abandoning tonality.

Would you please reply as soon as possible because I will not be here much
longer. My address here is 4803 Loch Raven Blvd., Baltimore[,] Maryland.
Phone Hopkins 77336. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Frank Zappa Jr. [6]

It’s a precocious letter, to be sure, and a little cocky to boot. But I think it reveals the depth of Zappa’s reverence for Varèse . The letter has a clarity and vitality that seems to be lacking in Zappa’s later accounts of his admiration for the older composer which, by comparison, seem lackluster and rehearsed.

References:
[1] Zappa and Occhiogrosso, The Real Frank Zappa Book, 33.
[2] Again, Zappa’s memory of this event is problematic. Zappa’s fifteenth birthday would have been in late December, 1955. The events surrounding Poème électronique do not align with Zappa’s account of the phone call. The Philips Radio Corporation appointed architect Le Corbusier to design their pavilion for the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. Much to the chagrin of Philips, Le Corbusier had insisted that Varèse provide the music. However, it wasn’t until June of 1956 that Le Corbusier wrote Varèse, inviting his participation in the project and it wasn’t until late August of 1957 that Varèse embarked on the eight month trip to Europe to work on the piece. See Fernand Ouellette, Edgard Varèse (New York: Orion Press, 1968), 198.
[3] Zappa, “Edgard Varèse: Idol of my Youth,” 63. (Text here.)
[4] Felix Meyer and Heidy Zimmermann, Edgard Varese: Composer, Sound Sculptor, Visionary (Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 2006).
[5] Frank Zappa, “Edgard Varèse: Idol of my Youth,” Stereo Review 26, no. 6 (June 1971): 63. (Text here.)
[6] Felix Meyer and Heidy Zimmermann, Edgard Varese: Composer, Sound Sculptor, Visionary (Woodbridge: Boydell Press, 2006).
“The Counsel of a Veteran”; Zappa’s letter to Varèse

2,230 thoughts on ““The Counsel of a Veteran”; Zappa’s letter to Varèse”

  1. cargador para pc portatil hp manizales

    smith i ox turbo fan cp sun red snowboard ski goggles m l black cable upgrade kz para aud铆fonos in ear modelos zst zst pro boompods blockblaster bluetooth speaker outdoor urban armor gear uag designed for samsung galaxy s9 plus case rebel your case fos…

  3. bijoux bracelet acier inoxydable photographie jandix

    ladies t shirts shop t shirts house of fraser womens balenciaga runners cream limited edition depop kim rogers short sleeve ditsy floral top womens clothing boys dark wood round painted wood beed black red pony bead necklace les georgettes pendentif ro…

  4. no name necklace lava and antique orange beads marion

    femme chaussures de sport avec coin blanc charme uomini ozuko zaino del computer portatile ad alta capacitè„¿ lab rabbit optics best optical yellows plus gin and tonic lariat recycled bombay sapphire bottle how to wear black tie like james bond the suits…

  5. olcsè´¸ ruha vè°©sè°©rlè°©s online

    prodotti per le unghie polkupy枚r盲t labd谩k medenc茅be l谩nyos zen茅k elektromos f疟ny铆r贸 j贸fog谩s rattan hintasz茅k jbl flip 4 tok file cabinets cutout png clipart automatic text summarization as applied to information

  6. bæžšcker av virginia andrews 3 st bæžšcker litteratur abc

    melshoes online shop 纬蠀谓伪喂魏蔚委伪 蟺伪蟺慰蠉蟿蟽喂伪 纬蠈尾蔚蟼 渭蟺慰蟿维魏喂伪 oxford 蠁蠈蟻蔚渭伪 魏慰魏魏喂谓慰 渭喂谓蟿喂 midi 魏慰蠀尾苇蟻蟿蔚蟼 praktiker 蟺伪蟺慰蠉蟿蟽喂 伪渭蟺喂纬喂苇 prima 魏蔚蟻未委蟽蟿蔚 5 伪谓蟿委蟿蠀蟺伪 蟿慰蠀 尾喂尾位委慰蠀 蟿慰 魏慰蟻委蟿蟽喂 蟿慰蠀 蟿蟻苇谓慰蠀 伪蟺蠈 mæžšssa barn med avtagbar tofs billiga hollister trosor dam pæ°“ n…

  9. 賷 卮賷乇 bugatchi 丕賱乇噩丕賱賷 匕賵 丕賱 氐賲賷賲 丕賱賲賳丕爻亘 亘賷丕賯丞 賲賳 賳爻賷噩

    detalles de khan gafas sol de dise帽ador grande hombre mujer big wrap retro grande skechers 1 estrella y mè°©s botas zapatos ofertas de goyvi sandalia plataforma beige 卮亘賰丞 亘賱丕 丨丿賵丿 丕賱廿禺亘丕乇賷丞 10 賳氐丕卅丨 賲賴賲丞 賱賱賵賯丕賷丞 賲賳 丕賱賮卮賱 兀噩賲賱 丕賱廿賰爻爻賵丕乇丕 丕賱 è³· 卮丕賴丿賳丕賴丕 賮賷…

  11. orange and black striped sweater

    拧aty lacoste mc usa rejser nike sko str 36 nike mercurial unisport jenny sté…¶vler kedeldragt xl byg dameté…¶j aalborg top 10 ure til må¿™nd sté…¶vler 2018 dame 蟺伪喂未喂魏蔚蟽 魏蟻蔚尾伪蟿慰魏伪渭伪蟻蔚蟽 纬喂伪 伪纬慰蟻喂伪 蟽魏慰蠀位伪蟻喂魏喂 蟽蟿伪蠀蟻慰蟽 蟽慰蟻蟿蟽伪魏喂伪 adidas pink crochet dress limeroad…

  13. TPU Phone Cases Gradient For Sony Xperia Z Z1 Z2 Z3 Z4 Z5 compact Mini M2 M4 M5 T3 E3 E5 XA XA1 XZ Premium

    The Punisher Skull Diy Painted Beautiful Phone Accessories Case For Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 3 3S 4 4A 4X 5 5A 6 6A Pro Plus For Women Men Cool Animal Owl Funny Glass Cabochon Pendant custom necklace Rectangle Fashion custom necklace For Samsung Galaxy Note…

  17. milwaukee m18 18 volt lithium ion cordless combo

    womens ankle boots booties zalando uk balenciaga ville top handle size m handbag in black leather balenciaga outerwear women denim jacket white white air de balenciaga paire prix max mature une technologie nike new converse chuck taylor all star low to…

  19. elemes hajv谩g贸g茅p

    bugatti pè°©nske ko啪en茅 poltopè°©nky 100 black 44 video nè°©kupn媒 o拧ia木 pokra膷uje v obchodn媒ch centrè°©ch sa najlep拧ia mamina dè°©mske tri膷ko biele dopl艌ky obag mini svadobn茅 oznè°©menia a pozvè°©nky transparentn媒 plast krè°©sne 膷ierne 拧aty maxi black flowers adidas t…

  20. 盲ltere postkarte solingen hauptstrasse m枚bel c. r. schmidt

    retekess v117 rè°©dio p艡enosn媒 am fm mal茅 flemera dè°©msk茅 ly啪a艡sk茅 kalhoty fl眉gel in der hinteren li stockfotos gro脽handel ma c make up pinsel 9er set bb drum kosmetik pinsel set kaufen sie im gro脽handel m盲nner zerrissen jeans zum verkauf 2020 plastov茅 j铆…

  22. 3m 5935 particulate pre filters p3 protekta safety gear

    oneforcare.gr online 蠁伪蟻渭伪魏蔚委慰 蟽蟿畏 socket wrench vip tec profesyonel el buitines prekes table pour enfants 攵欕皶鞚?鞁犽皽鞛?臧€瓴?/a> kambarinis termometras barnkl盲der billigt p氓 n盲tet pulover femei radi谩tor sz谩r铆t贸

  25. dom谩c铆 obuv d谩msk谩

    okulary przeciws艂oneczne bia艂e galeria zdj臋膰 i obrazè´¸w na nowo艣膰 sklep lego city 60182 pickup z przyczep膮 dowiedz si臋 jakie s膮 rozmiary obiektè´¸w przedstawionych sukienka plisowana z d偶erseju salove tenisky elektrick茅 roboty antiparazitn铆 obojek pro ko膷…

  26. camper scarpe pelotas 18.302 091 scarpe e borse

    camisas mujer elegantes tallas grandes air jordan 12 blanco negro zapatos 2019 playera nike challenger crew fit for feet sy8 n. nike air max 90 mujer blancas zapatos rebaja sudadera adidas blue red 22.90 euros vestuario tops ropa mujer nike mujeres cha…

  28. giant lego storage brick drawers medium

    marte dr. martens 啪enske ko啪ne 膷izme 39 1 2 gratis akcija 925 srebrni privjesak djevoj膷ica sa krilima i dragon ball z shenron 3 in 1 built up backpack boxlunch exclusive marvel avengers 4 infinity war movie anime super heros captain america ironman spi…

  29. 诪住讱 诪讞砖讘 lg 27mp58vq p 27 讗讬谞讟砖 诪住讻讬 诪讞砖讘

    modern铆 cestovn铆 kufry diamond sv臎tle 泻邪泻 锌芯写泻谢褞褔懈褌褜 斜谢芯泻 褉芯蟹械褌泻邪 胁褘泻谢褞褔邪褌械谢褜 baby monitor with infrared night vision ipad pro 9.7 inch lcd scherm kopen a kwaliteit onderdelen term么metro digital febre infantil bebe adulto de testa xtrad billig bobles å¿™…

  30. tute moto giudici

    boys under armour ua heater mid tpu jr baseball cleats 4.5y 4.5 127395 061 under armour chest logo t shirt women mint at sport bittl shop alabama crimson tide gear workout pants bottoms under armour us under armor under armour shorts short short bread…

  31. lightweight organic cotton baby booties grippers

    讗讜驻谞讬 讻讘讬砖 讬讚 2 诪讬讚讛 56 讗转讛 诪讝专讞讬 40 诪注讜讘讚讬 讛讛讬讬讟拽 讘砖讗诇讛 讚讜诪讛 讘专讗讬讜谉 讜讜讗诇讛 trespass alexander boys ski jacket wrinkle resistant 100 percent cotton 300 thread count duvet covers soft baby doll with hair and cute outfit 讗专讻讬讜谉 诇讙讗谞住 诪讚专讬讚讬住讟讛 转讞驻讜砖转 住专讜讙…

  32. tommy hilfiger d谩msk茅 tri膷ko s m臎n铆c铆mi se flitry 膷ern茅

    蟿蟽维谓蟿伪 谓畏蟺喂伪纬蠅纬蔚委慰蠀 santoro gorjuss rosebud 蟺位伪魏维魏喂 渭蟺维谓喂慰蠀 cosmos anthracite 渭伪蟿 20 60 airex corona exercise mat grey gray size 200 x 100 cm sold antique islamic composite bow turkish ottoman or indo pink pig fleece animal adult onesie kigurumi onesie…

  33. 蠂蔚喂蟻慰蟺慰喂畏蟿畏 魏慰蠀尾蔚蟻蟿伪 魏慰蠁蟿畏

    gryf prosty 180 cm obci膮偶enie 67 kg sztanga zestaw czarny giorgio armani bluza szara roz m adidas plecak szkolny z piè´¸rnikiem bp zegarek m臋ski jordan kerr ss265 g lokè´¸wko suszarka rowenta cf9421 suszarko lokè´¸wki zdj臋cia 925 sterling silver plupp barnbo…

  34. vans hawaiian print backpack

    meeting room chairs fashion fall winter 2019 nike run natural free and flexible avr bluetooth pokemons case for samsung galaxy j7 j5 2016 j7 prime j510 j5 int茅grale j5 samsung arri猫re avant rouge 2017 galaxy coque samsung galaxy a6 plus 2018 etui guma…

  36. football tie white hart lane slim tie wedding tie

    kamenn茅 dekorè°©cie do zè°©hrady elegantn茅 dè°©mske zimn茅 kabè°©ty damske gumaky tommy hilfiger tiffany co. beaded heart key pendant necklace necklaces custom made bow tie avon pearl marcasite pendant necklace lyst speedo check leisure 18 swim shorts in gray f…

  37. dekorè°©cie do izby

    jean bande lat茅rale petsmart dinosaur costume tattooed lotus leggings from gearbunch todays fashion item charlotte russe printed crochet trim high waisted dolphin shorts moncler swimwear man boxer shorts elektrostymulator tens allegro svadobne kytice o…

  38. nike free rn p谩nske be啪eck茅 top谩nky 膷erven谩 膷ierna biela

    f眉les kapucnis pl眉ss n艖i pizsama szett fels艖 nadrè°©g m l ç…¤j n艖i neon rè´¸zsasz铆n szoknya f茅rfi szabadid艖 nadrè°©g nike columbia onchan park tee pamut pè´¸lè´¸ mountex a tç…¤rabolt ker茅kpè°©r k茅zi 茅s mç–Ÿhelypumpè°©k mè°©r 990 ft tè´¸l i decathlon maca premium maca mu拧ke sp…

  39. ricambi tagliacapelli babyliss

    naisten juhlavaatteita s盲hk枚kytkin imetec bellissima luce pulsata funziona lasten py枚r盲 22 ceramic hair clippers 谞讬讬拽 砖讞讜专讜转 诇谞砖讬诐 renpho hair clippers

  40. 褌械褉屑芯屑械褌褉 chicco

    邪胁懈褌芯 芯斜谢邪褋褌褜 tomorrow x together print off shoulder 斜邪谢邪泻谢邪胁邪 airhole standard 2 layer 褔械褉薪褘泄 褋邪谢邪褌芯胁褘泄 褑胁械褌 betrouwbare website ziemas z膩baki sieviet膿m letoon spor ayakkabè°‹ skin care and skin protection pdf free download 韥澕鞖?旃橂霝€ 韥澕鞖?旃橂霝€ 於╈箻 鞝滉卑…

  41. yellow handbags shop our best clothing shoes deals

    elle bot morhipo beymen vakko 莽anta sl盲pvagn æ°“tm 1985 g盲vle kæžšp och s盲lj i stockholm stone island kort fodrad jacka farfetch blæ°“ mo701543125 bilbarnstol 盲ldre barn bortsk盲nkes stockholm satè°‹n al seksi dantel kadè°‹n k眉lot bayan ruffles diki艧siz lingerie…

  42. los tenis pirma son buenos

    frozen 2 premiera czarna kurtka wiosenna meska czarna bluzka dla dziewczynki s艂uchawki bezprzewodowe denon spè´¸dnica skè´¸rzana br膮zowa sukienka dla tesciowej na wesele spodnie czarne jeansy meskie kostium na wesele dla mamy buty sportowe nike dla dzieci…

  43. vetement carole en ligne

    des belles chaussures pour femme sweat zipp茅 ralph lauren homme coque nike samsung a5 2015 prix modele robe de bapteme fille couverture chauffante pour epaule moje nju拧kalo neaktivni oglasi tepih od sisala robe chemise transparente

  44. TPU Transparent Cases For Samsung Galaxy A51 A71 A81 A90 5G A91 A01 S11 S11E S20 Plus Ultra Sailor Moon Sailor Mercury

    For Women Choker Sherlock Tardis Steel Color Glass Cabochon With Rectangle Shaped Pendant Choker Necklace Japan Kawaii Whale Shark For Huawei Honor Mate 7 7A 8 9 10 20 V8 V9 V10 V30 P40 G Lite Play Mini Pro P Smart Skin Pattern For Samsung Galaxy A51 A…

  45. venta al por mayor abrigo de invierno

    mochila de mujer guess en blanco con asas estampadas guess calzado angel infantes fofucha comuniè´¸n de segunda mano en vestidos para verano 2016 adidas stan smith mid bb0109 universal falda de tubo por debajo de la rodilla geldbæžšrse herren auf rechnung

  46. meia lupo infantil sport lupo

    fla拧ka za vodo napis po naro膷ilu castelli kolesarski dres prologo v painonnostopenkki painot alk. 265 pro vitality paketti kokonaisia ruoka aineita vestidos ano novo veja mais dafiti brasil ukraine buty stella mccartney adidas ultra boost odzie偶 firmow…

  47. centone regular fit uzun kol gæžšmlek 18 0293 centone erkek giyim

    officiell fæžšrs盲ljning dam speidel halskedja 盲kta silver siyah ta艧lè°‹ abiye erkek k谋艧lè°‹k atkè°‹ modelleri derimod kæžšp dr盲kt mimmi mus hos oss allt fæžšr barnfamiljen peter satsar pæ°“ att s盲lja smycken via n盲tet jnytt billigt hæžšg kvalitet anpassade siden bomul…

  48. kmart catalogue and weekly specials

    2019 讗讜驻谞讛 讙讜转讬 砖讞讜专 拽爪讜抓 住诇注讬转 住讜讜讟砖讬专讟 谞砖讬诐 砖专砖专转 讟诇讗讬诐 诇专讻讜住 讛住讜讜讟砖专讟 Streetwear 讞讚砖 谞讬诐 讞讜诇爪讜转 S M L audrey 3 1 s small black lace dress boutique dusty pink sweetheart push up bra and thong 讬讚谞讬 驻诇住讟讬拽 诪讬谞讬 住讬讙专讬讜转 诪转讙诇讙诇 诪讻讜谞转 诇诪砖讜讱 注砖谉 讙诇讗讬 讟讘拽 专…

  49. bota west coast masculina winston nobuck 129007

    blender pr贸偶niowy hanssem ozen opis produktu blender lustrzanka czy kompakt z wymienn膮 optyk膮 sanda艂y damskie skè´¸rzane srebrne dolce pietro 2023 wyprzeda偶 tilaa lenkkarit ulkomailta s盲盲st盲t selv盲盲 rahaa suomessa s盲hkæžšautojen hinta km k盲ytetyt koiratutk…

  50. cocktailkleid von weise in mint mit stick mode bæžšsckens

    trousse de toilette è„¿ suspendre tee shirt louis vuitton violet taille m yuka femme vert pantalon rosario large allure lunettes maui jim homme pamut springfield m n艖i top fels艖 trikè´¸ vè°©llpè°©ntos oldalt kæžšt艖s pè´¸lè´¸ nyitott vè°©llas kæžštæžštt miniruha æžšvvel sz眉r…

Comments are closed.