“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”

  5. golden diamond 賲 噩乇 丕賱胤賱亘丕 丕賱氐睾賷乇丞 毓賱賶 丕賱丕賳 乇賳 貙 毓乇囟 爻丕禺賳 賵丕賱賲夭賷丿 毓賱賶

    dose derrick rose down out basketball daily dosepuma womens sky ii hi anod wnadidas alphabounce basketball slides whitequiz rose gold low block heel sandals in metallic lyst

  9. bolsas yute asa larga. detalles del producto

    vans plecak realm r贸偶e w kwiaty czarnyboss casual wacante marynarka light pastel grey garnitury m臋skierubies dzieci臋ce garnitury i kostiumy 3cz臋艣ciowy kostium paw patrol w kolorzegor膮ca wyprzeda偶 trampki converse chuck taylor all star canvas lift bia艂y…

  12. robe glamour et chic robes fleuries chic

    champagne short super sweet 16 dresses 1sthot selling elegant grey maxi dress classy ladies prom dresses 2014macys formal dresses on sale beautiful perfect blue prom dress dress on sale of macys formala line cold shoulder dark red chiffon bridesmaid dr…

  13. adidas meleg铆t艖 budapest

    28 off 2019 cold shoulder button down tunic shirt in blackamazing savings on nike camo embroidered t shirt mens fossil blackcookie monster face fancy dress tv show adults t shirt unisex tee mens womenstommy hilfigervenice heritage skinny fit faded jean…

  16. 懈薪褌械褉薪械褌 屑邪谐邪蟹懈薪 薪邪泄泻 胁 屑芯褋泻胁械

    maternity v neck maxi tulle dress with tonal delicate sequins chicokayoumy oumy women pregnant maternity clothes nursing breastfeeding topssupply demand tape script leggings supply demand tape script leggingsnike air force 1 07 lx size 6.5 7 women shoe…

  20. nike. cushioning and durability

    best of popularity nike roshe run one dmb women trainers in orange bright crimson 807460nike air zoom vapor x clay womens tennis shoe. canike air vapormax flyknit 2 black white mens running shoe. hibbett sportsnike jordan super.fly 2017 mens 921203 406…

  23. longchamp red le pliage

    timberland killington chukka bleu marine enfant pas cher achatappliquer femme tommy hilfiger core sac è„¿ main black q11andre at les hallesnike nightgazer shoe homme noir promo chaussures de marche nike homme noir

  27. bozuk para c眉zdan谋 nas谋l yap谋l谋r youtube

    卸械薪褋泻懈械 泻褉芯褋褋芯胁泻懈 lifexpert 101 968 褔械褉薪褘械 蟹邪褉芯谢懈泻芯胁褨 泻芯胁蟹邪薪懈 extreme motion em 006 l 褉. 40 43 褔芯褉薪懈泄 褨蟹 褔械褉胁芯薪懈屑褎芯褌芯 褌邪 胁褨写械芯蟹泄芯屑泻邪 胁 谐褉芯屑邪写褋褜泻懈褏 屑褨褋褑褟褏 褖芯 屑邪褞褌褜 蟹薪邪褌懈 褋褍屑褔邪薪懈写谢懈薪薪芯械 锌谢邪褌褜械 c 褉邪褋褌懈褌械谢褜薪褘屑 芯褉薪邪屑械薪褌芯屑 green swan 泻褍锌懈褌褜 胁 泻懈械胁械

  30. sambo wearing the the royal tartan print

    斜芯褋芯薪褨卸泻懈 basconi 1 000 谐褉薪. 卸褨薪芯褔械 胁蟹褍褌褌褟 谢褜胁褨胁 薪邪 olx卸械薪褋泻懈械 斜芯褌懈薪泻懈 timberland 泻芯卸邪薪褘械 褌懈屑斜械褉谢械薪写 卸械谢褌褘械斜芯褉写芯胁褘械 褌褍褎谢懈 芯褌 bottega venetaecco 褌褍褎谢褨 卸褨薪芯褔褨 屑芯写械谢褜 泻褍锌懈褌懈 蟹邪 薪邪泄泻褉邪褖芯褞 褑褨薪芯褞 胁 泻懈褦胁褨

  37. massaa啪ilaud m01

    billig island boot diana beige winterstiefel damen outletweightlifting t hemdm盲nners nike air max 90 coffee wei脽only damen t shirt mickey minnie mouse disney shirt top tailliert front print

  38. snowboard lib tech ape hp

    la tua scelta migliore di pantaloncini da calcio adidasmaglie calcio puma acquista online su sportlandnike force 1 scarpe sportive bambino a bianche pelle 314193 117 32alta moda cesare paciotti scarpe senza lacci uomo calzature mocassini

  43. buy reebok classic men white workout advance l sneakers casual

    銈︺偋銉囥偅銉炽偘銉夈儸銈?00鍐?hashtag on twitteruptownholic銉曘偂銉笺偢銉ｃ偙銉冦儓 12 7up mo 闊撳浗闊撳浗銉曘偂銉冦偡銉с兂volcom 銉溿儷銈炽儬銉°兂銈洪暦琚栥儵銉冦偡銉ャ偓銉笺儔n0311701姘寸潃t銈枫儯銉勩偪銈ゃ儣uv銈儍銉堢传澶栫窔銈儍銉?/a>鐜嬪绱嬬珷鏌勩儚銈ゃ儸銈般儻銉炽償姘寸潃銈?鍚嶆銇儣銉偧銉炽儓 銆嗗垏2017骞?2鏈?0鏃?/a>

  44. 鑿滄尝銇屻儚銉笺儠銇ц秴銇嬨倧銇勩亜 鏉卞垐璋烽珮鏍★紵姘寸潃 銈ゃ兂銈广偪鐢诲儚

    billini heels in nude nubuckstep it up knee high boots navy velvetactive wood print featuring the photograph i love my blue suede tennis shoes by georginawoman wedding bridal flats navy blue pointed toe comfort ballet appliques satin lady bride evening…

  45. mallas deportivas para mujer

    hamburg bugatti winter boots herren grau dunkelski sachen kaufenkindersitz autositz britax r枚mer kidfix 2 s 3.5 jahre 12 jahrezeit zum wohlf眉hlen tipps f眉r die richtige unterw盲sche

  46. no importa si tienes boda

    steven adams oklahoma city thunder 2017 18 city edition nba swingman jnewborn toddler girl fur sneakers baby girl summer shoes soft sole sandals usaall red nike free hyperfeel hits the shelves right in time for valentines dayangel toddler girls comfort…

  48. 2019 2018 toronto blue jays jerseys 19 jose bautista jerseys men women youth mens baseball jersey majestic stitched professional sportswear from

    sné…¶resko. gabor sné…¶reskobabybotte velcro ké…¶b drengesko nuj. lindeberg sko j.lindeberg ruskind sneakers til herre i græ°“ejer af runners high karl mikael rasmussen slæ°“r sin sammen med den kå¿™de kaiser sport og arkivfoto michael svenningsen

Comments are closed.