Ritual Dance of the Young Zappa

Andre, , ,

CAL 110 (sleeve front)

At a young age, Zappa bought a copy of The Rite of Spring and loved every note:

The second 33 1/3-RPM record I bought was by Stravinsky. I found a budget-line recording (on Camden) of The Rite of Spring by something called ‘The World-Wide Symphony Orchestra.’ (Sounds pretty official, eh?) The cover was a green-and-black abstract whatchamacallit, and it had a magenta paper label with black lettering. I loved Stravinsky almost as much as Varèse.[1]

Much of my research relies primary sources. Lyrics, liner notes, bootlegs, interviews, and The Real Frank Zappa Book (FZ’s autobiography) make up the bulk of these sources. Along these lines, Avo Raup’s fantastic website Zappa Books–with its search-able database of interviews and zine articles–and Román García Albertos’ IINK (Information Is Not Knowledge)–a huge, cross-referenced database of lyrics and other album information–have been a tremendously helpful resources. But occasionally, I need to get right to the source. Such was the case with finding Zappa’s copy of Stavinsky’s The Rite of Spring.

In my current chapter (which examines cases of musical borrowings from Stravinsky in Zappa’s music), I make the argument that much of Zappa’s understanding of Stravinsky is influenced by the mythology surrounding the older composer. I wondered if there might be any juicy details on the liner notes that would provide some insight regarding the idiosyncrasies with which Zappa viewed Stravinsky. Armed with Zappa’s description I set out to find a copy of the same record…

As it turns out, Camden was a budget label for RCA Victor records, first introduced in 1955 (right about when Zappa would have been buying the record). Some quick Googling revealed that the Camden catalog did include a recording of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring! (I express surprise here due to prior aggravations brought on by tracing comments from The Real Frank Zappa Book…) CAL 110 features World Wide Symphony Orchestra performing The Rite!

341995093_7aa83c50f9The RCA Building in Camden, NJ
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ebot/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Further research revealed some interesting facts about the record. The World Wide Symphony Orchestra, it seems, was a pseudonym for the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. This particular record (CAL 110) was actually dubbed from 78 rpm discs of another recording by the SFSO conducted by Pierre Monteux. (Monteux, like the SFSO, isn’t mentioned anywhere on the record. Presumably, the motivation here was to re-release a back catalog of 78 rpm records in a more commercially-viable format using pseudonyms to avoid conflicting with sales of newer recordings of the same artists. It was, as Frank would say, strictly commercial.)

3359562292_d1a7096d70The Théâtre des Champs-Élysées
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kerolic/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Monteux, as any responsible Stravinsky scholar will jump to tell you, premiered The Rite at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris in 1915 1913 (noted, of course, for the riot it incited). Zappa doesn’t seem to have been aware that his record featured such a prestigious conductor.

And–lucky me–a quick WorldCat search found a copy of the record at UC Santa Cruz! (Which means I could request it and get my grubby hands on it right quick.) This turned out to be a little more difficult that expected (frustrations with an inefficient interlibrary loan system), but the record arrived yesterday! Green-and-black abstract whatchamacallit and all!

Unfortunately, being the budget label that it was, Camden seems to have cut costs by not including liner notes. Oh well… The adventure wasn’t a total bust. I got to listen to the record and pretend to be a young Zappa listening to “The Augers” for the first time.

I snuck off to a remote corner of the library and took a few pictures of the record as well. You can see where some helpful librarian has scratched out “World Wide” and entered the correct performer data. (I would have ripped the vinyl to mp3s, but it was “in library use only.”) Here are some scans of the sleeve and label. Enjoy!

CAL 110 (sleeve front)CAL 110 (sleeve back)

CAL 110 (side A)CAL 110 (side B)

The first record Zappa bought, by the way, was The Complete Works of Edgard Varèse, Vol. I (EMS 401). And if Zappa played the Stravinsky as much as he played the Varèse, this disc got a lot of attention. (By one account, Zappa claimed to have listened to The Rite of Spring more than “any man in the world”![2])

References:
[1] Frank Zappa and Peter Occhiogrosso, The Real Frank Zappa Book (New York: Poseidon Press, 1989), 34.
[2] Rip Rense, “A Unique Musical Force or Blasphemous Freak: Which Is Frank Zappa?,” The Valley News (June 27, 1976).
Ritual Dance of the Young Zappa

47,791 thoughts on “Ritual Dance of the Young Zappa”

  1. ecobabycanada

    samsung galaxy s9 carbon fibre pouzdro 膷ern谩 full sleeve midi 拧aty travis golf cappello bite mens golf sandals saucony herren excursion tr12 schuhe galaxy s9 hyperknit dekking

  2. kobukandojo

    butterfly portemonnees en portemonnees huawei honor 7 back kryt sexy romantic wedding 拧aty philadelphia 76ers playoff side patch 39thirty berretto brooks cascadia ladies schwarzer lack pumps

  3. xueaifei

    tuta adidas donne 2018 nike air max 720 blanc et rose adidas stan smith negro y blanco mujer donna plaid baseball berretto nike zoom fly the ten piszkosfeh茅r sage z枚ld beaded ruha

  4. markbergmd

    popular schuhe today xiaomi redmi 6 hoesje nike blackcamo womens michael palardy salute to service nfl 5 carolina panthers t shirt nike portmonetka plecak hard glass finish logo case for iphone x raven portemonnee crossbody

  5. buffelsvlei

    home kitchen wall mounted vanity mirrors tools home improvement ball nose home kitchen waffle irons tools home improvement surforms home kitchen chandeliers 1 boys swim rash guard shirts 7

  6. junkmansports

    new balance sneakers black and white jordan 11 ie bred uomo dreadlock beanie nike air zoom pegasus 35 running chaussure ladies red lakers hat new england patriots new era nfl kids draft 9fifty snapback casquette

  7. piumissimo

    lilly pulitzer marinen shift kjole marc jacobs academy blau multi felpa logo nike jordan retro 4 homme noir air force 1 alto psny blanco boston celtics team banner 9fifty snapback berretto

  8. altitoo

    baby yankee fitted cappello stuart weitzman luge boot top safety schuhe iphone 9 hoesje youth nike new york jets 92 leonard williams limited black salute to service therma long sleeve nfl jersey anya hindmarch python torba

  9. ucconnect

    stomach corset for wedding 拧aty quiksilver mouthy snapback berretto navy pointed flats brooks gts 18 schuhe google pixel 3 xl hoesje custom barcelona 7 coutinho third long sleeves soccer club jersey

  10. coldplayzone

    mexican peasant 拧aty new era world series cappelli red t strap sandals schneeschuhe damen wasserdicht samsung tab s4 book dekking kyrie irving swingman black jersey

  11. niubvnp

    k茅k 茅s arany mermaid ruha georgetown hoyas new era ncaa ac 59fifty casquette samsung j7 prime transparent back d忙ksel fila czarny shiny buty dark gr酶nn full length kjole roxy bucket tasche

  12. vivedigest

    boys school tops 4 home kitchen laundry hampers 2 arts crafts basket making home kitchen wall tabletop frames 2 mens polos 4 womens formal dresses 3

  13. gewgawgames

    arizona cardinals new era kids nfl training camp 39thirty berretto caterpillar boots sizing bugatti cognac 6300 super thin iphone 6s hoesje raptors 15 vince carter blackpurple throwback stitched nba jersey the row nylon plecak

  14. vivathemes

    matt en nat groen zak kawaii iphone 7 plus pouzdro velbloud jumper 拧aty san francisco giants 47 mlb kids 47 clean up berretto black altra shoes tommy taylor schuhe

  15. hotelciragan

    brooklyn nets alle colors 9fifty snapback hatter asics alpine xt running zapatillas garneau mtb scarpe heren triumph iso 4 puma suede womens black air one foamposite

  16. ckmboise

    limited nike blue womens james bradberry alternate jersey nfl 24 carolina panthers vapor untouchable quilted sk贸rzany tote torba speck card case 9 west crossbody zak official samsung s7 pouzdro long sleeve caftan 拧aty

  17. reklamonstr

    gorilla glass case iphone x thom browne dachshund zak iphone 6s back kryt rubber ever pretty one shoulder 拧aty atlanta falcons new era nfl chains 9fifty snapback berretto inov8 x claw 275 womens

  18. altshiftkill

    dragon ball z fitted cappello kyrie 4 k茅k 茅s arany embroidered jean ruha houston astros clubhouse jersey pop 9fifty snapback casquette phone sag for lg phoenix plus trampki 艣lubne keds

  19. drivectl

    converse fekete sz眉rke feh茅r short sleeve mini ruha nfl shop 49ers chapeaux oppo f9 pro d忙ksel sag girls bia艂y sketchers rose gull shirt kjole

  20. bigjogos

    automotive clutch alignments tools tools home improvement drop in bathtubs 4 home kitchen charger service plates 3 girls shorts 2 womens lingerie full slips home kitchen robe towel hooks 2

  21. narcolepsia

    bugatti biker boots herren apple iphone xs flip hoesje youth warriors jersey supreme waist torba be偶owy lux mobile battery case review affordable leer handtassen

  22. intagturismo

    anti theft portfel m臋skie pitaka carbon case neil barrett rugzak phone pouzdro iphone 7 boys n谩mo艡nictvo velvet 拧aty long sleeve stetson 4x beaver cappello nero

  23. iptvpremiun

    bait sombrero golden state warriors mitchell ness nba xl mesh crop snapback 銈儯銉冦儣 chris joslin pro schuhe nike jordan 1 schwarz und wei脽 clarks velcro school shoes mlb 膷epice wholesale

  24. pmlambert

    homme jordan retro 11 faible td jordan flight origin 4 gym rojo felt cowboy cappelli for vendita nike blazer vintage feh茅r fekete sexy sz眉rke ruha cleveland browns new era nfl heathered neo 39thirty casquette

  25. macrium

    apple 5 phone hoesje limited nike green mens matt kalil jersey nfl 75 carolina panthers salute to service tank top shoulder portmonetka for school samsung mirror flip case mundi slim portemonnee with safe keeper skinny dip iphone 8 plus pouzdro

  26. puissancenet

    mens snow boots tools home improvement extractor accessories automotive screwdriver sets tools home improvement kitchen sinks 6 womens totes 7 industrial scientific vacuum pads

  27. johngriswold

    chicago cubs fitted cappello saucony running ride 10 royal blau thigh hoch stiefel samsung galaxy j7 2017 flip hoesje limited nike black youth greg van roten jersey nfl 73 carolina panthers 2016 salute to service judith leiber credit card torba

  28. zinegotzia

    vegan rattan torba nokia 101 back cover pixel xl portemonnee vintage iphone 7 pouzdro nachov媒 puffy 拧aty nero oakley cappello

  29. fayjoneshome

    nike air force one 07 femme new balance 520 negro y oro knicks city cappello puma laceless cip艖k z枚ld emerald long ruha plain new era fitted chapeaux

  30. powdicorp

    adidas little tasche pantaloncini adidas entrada junior adidas yeezy 350 triple blanc jordan 1 medio negro cool gris gym rojo harley bucket cappello adidas superstar cip艖 foot locker

  31. glazerframes

    typo friends phone hoesje red marquise goodwin game jersey mens 11 nike nfl san francisco 49ers home large marynarka wojenna niebieski clutch torba case for alcatel raven nike fanny pack zwart en goud coral pouzdro for iphone xr

  32. alisagreig

    nike sb blazer gebroken wit nike air max thea alle wei脽 air force 1 lv8 utility czarny junior minnesota vikings new era nfl team basic 59fifty gorra chicago 銉涖儻銈ゃ儓 sox pro standard mlb 銉栥儵銉冦偗 volt strapback 銈儯銉冦儣 ricosta pepino paolo

  34. gryplaneta

    industrial scientific contact cements baby boys sweaters 2 tools home improvement handrails 3 home kitchen bakeware muffin cupcake pans industrial scientific toilet tissue aids tools home improvement spray paint 1

  35. iaortho

    lowa renegade gtx mid black silber street smart brogues samsung s9 plus mirror hoesje limited nike camo youth connor williams jersey nfl 52 dallas cowboys 2018 salute to service dango civilian portfel huawei p20 pro case ireland

  36. gaygloshow

    girls identification bracelets 3 mens cold weather scarves 3 tools home improvement cable sleeves 2 industrial scientific chemical resistant gloves 1 home kitchen book lights 1 home kitchen vertical blinds 3

  37. nerografik

    platform smart schuhe ipod nano dekking hoesje nike team usa 10 kobe bryant white 2012 usa basketball retro stitched nba jersey moschino cow torba samsung s8 clear cover purper skull handtas

  38. edcooleymedia

    tampa bay rays new era mlb clubhouse 59fifty casquette ultra boost gull medal 2.0 air max 270 junior roze schwarz 97 undefeated nike air max 95 tt bia艂y hombre oversized gorro sombreros

  39. theebookworld

    heelys hx2 schuhe von sorel galaxy s10 aluminum hoesje womens nike pittsburgh steelers 37 carnell lake black team color vapor untouchable limited player nfl jersey nike vapormax gym torba olixar case note 9

  40. monopolsa

    kohls simply vera handtassen griffin xr pouzdro light modr媒 拧aty dillards sf giants 47 cappello wide fit safety trainers herren orange flip flops

  41. alscenter

    supreme xl duffle torba apple iphone xr waterproof case nightmare before christmas crossbody handtas design your own pouzdro iphone 8 plus b铆l媒 long blazer 拧aty verde bay packers stocking berretto

  42. rabetemoasser

    herren stiefel with rot soles adidas nmd r1 tricolor schwarz rachel simpson bridal shoes us n谩mo艡nictvo camo klobouky air jordan 12 retro obuv skechers elite flex homme

  43. glfusion

    herren real leder stiefel magnetic adsorption hoesje iphone 7 adidas bruins 77 ray bourque purple authentic fights cancer stitched nhl jersey camo tote torba cotton phone case samsung galaxy j3 prime drifter body zak

  44. photodisrupt

    plus size ivory 拧aty nike sb net berretto sportful lycra overshoes schwarz wedge abs盲tze uk spiderman otterbox hoesje white pittsburgh penguins jersey

  45. dkiclaims

    home kitchen travel pillows womens jeans 5 boys snow boots 3 industrial scientific angle grinder wheels womens screws piercing jewelry 5 industrial scientific stirring rods

  46. fsphawaii

    vintage torebki near me galaxy s7 edge extended battery case fjallraven kanken rugzak zwart friday iphone 8 clear protective pouzdro modr媒 princess 拧aty nascar snapback cappelli

  47. beautyaddictz

    levn媒 nfl snapback klobouky puma wide golf obuv homme gris penny loafers north face f茅rfi waterproof csizma san diego padres new era mlb 59fifty bro hatter adidas superstar mujer rose oro stripe

  48. voiturerobert

    unicorn water phone pouzdro 拧aty hoodie p谩nsk茅 youth dodgers cappello daewon song shoes allrounder damenschuhe dekking s8 clear view

  49. readymadeweb

    clear rose iphone case dooney en bourke pebble grain slim portemonnee gorilla pouzdro s9 plus ganni 拧aty b铆l媒 rangers bucket cappello shoes waterproof womens

  50. drupalma

    round tassen 2018 google pixel 3 xl official pouzdro midi long sleeve skater 拧aty uomo nero nike beanie deichmann rose gold shoes schuhe goo leder

Comments are closed.