jwcurry presents
Messagio Galore: a jwcurry quartet #4!!!
jwcurry, Maria Erskine, Nicholas Power & Rob Read
bpNichol's Martyrology marathon reading by jwcurry here at Majlis last Sept 29th to Oct 1st, 2006. (Photo's: (L) David Owen; (R) MC Shanger)
"Messagio Galore takes its working title from Frank Zappa's MASSAGIO GALORE, a swirling musique concrete melody set to a propulsive synthetic vamp. it is arguably his earliest & dense work involving programmed nonsyntactical sound produced by mouth, its musical component pretty much a support structure. There have been many composers working with the notion of the sprechgesang but fewer writers have approached the question of what happens to "words in freedom" except in isolated clutches (DaDa in Zurich, Italian & Russian Futurism, the later French Lettristes." - jwcurry
Saturday, October 6, 2007 --- 6pm - whenever? ( doors open at 5pm-ish )
6:00pm - Messagio Galore: a jwcurry quartet ( Fall, 2007; versioned-performance #4 ] - Toronto Premiere
Compiler/Director/Producer: jwcurry; Webmaster/B.E.E.P. (local 8) union president: MC Shanger; Majlis/Sh-O-R Entertainment Director: Aaron Tynes; Special Thanks to: Tricia Postle, Deepti Gupta & Ed Fielding (for dee in-kind donation of dee Majlis Multidisciplinary Space).
A Crazy Sound Poetry Reading as performed by: jwcurry; Maria Erskine; Nicholas Power; Rob Read.
A history of sound poetry from the 1860's to present-day is covered in this "poetry reading"!!! Canadian poet and publisher jwcurry, better known as, "dee Pope of dee Canadian small book press," is again at it and putting on another mammoth event here at Majlis. As always, jwcurry will compile, produce and direct this piece. He would have it no other way folks. This is performance #4 of this piece and will have it's Tdot premiere on this historic night. Performance #1 (take I): was held in Ottawa (w/Maria Erskine; at Gallery 101; Feb 26, 2004 - I was there); #2 (take II): Ottawa (w/Jennifer Books & Max Middle; held in the vacated bookstore space underneath his Chinatown apartment on Somerset Street West; Sept 24, 2005); #3: Calgary (w/Laurie Fuhr, Peter Norman & Ross Priddle; held on the Enmax stage on Prince's Island; July 20, 2007). Y'arrr!!!
Now, for those of you that know john will know that just reading this page on dee NET is a major thingie for john - he still has no e-mail, but does surf dee net. Remember, he is a writer - a luddite, if you will? So, according to jwcurry's own wishes, info here will be kept to a minimal. But, he will distribute a programme on this night! Yeh!!! I might even make a poster for this night, if j.w. gives me dee Oh-key-doh-key? He is his own Minister of Propaganda, of which he is keeping down to a minimal this time. Word of mouth central here folks, so spread dee word!!! Glad he OK'ed this page though!!! That's something, I guess? Stay tuned right here for further info? Y'arrr!!!!
REVIEWS of versioned-perfomances #1 & #2 (this #4 is certainly a more full-blown version):
From: Read Rob McLennan's blog reviewing performance #1 & #2 - has "MG, take II" programmed poems & links to other bloggers reviews & official reading webpages:
"On Saturday, September 24th, a group of nearly two dozen of us were treated to a rare and important reading by Ottawa poet and publisher jwcurry, the first in his Hit'N'Run Lecture Series, called "MESSAGIO GALORE take II," framed as "a performance by jwcurry of sound & related textu(r)al materials with additional vocal aid by Max Middle," and held in the vacated bookstore space underneath his Chinatown apartment on Somerset Street West (see also post-reading reactions by John MacDonald, Wanda O'Connor and jealousies by Daniel f. Bradley, who couldn't make it). The second version of a performance "in an extremely different configuration with the vocal assistance of Maria Erskine (call it Take I)" at Gallery 101's Factory Reading Series (sponsored by span-o) on February 26, 2004, this is an extended variant on the reading he decides to do every year or two, depending on his mood, moving back into the public sphere for a moment, only to return to his desk and his work for another quiet period of months (a year or two he announced he wanted to remove himself from the world, and stop allowing his work out of his apartment for other publications)." - excerpt, Rob Mclennan review (Monday, October 17, 2005; re: jwcurry's "Messagio Galore")
------
"Hit’N’Run Lecture Series #1,
MESSAGIO GALORE take II, assisted jwcurry in the execution of works by bill
bissett, Victor Coleman, jwcurry, Four Horsemen, Steve
McCaffery, bpNichol, Toronto Research Group & Frank Zappa, Ottawa, 24
September 2005" - Max
Middle
------
"Messagio Maestro
Little did I know that last night I was to witness one of the most electric sound poetry performances in Canadian poetic history. Too much of a boast perhaps...what the hell do I know about Canadian sound poetry? Although I've not had the good fortune to see a live performance of The Four Horsemen, I have seen snippets on television many years ago and remember that I was impressed beyond imagination. The Four Horsemen are comprised of Rafael Barreto-Rivera, Paul Dutton, Steve McCaffery and bp Nichol. I, however, strongly feel that my opinion would not be dismissed as hubris if you were to ask any of the others who were present.
Being present at jwcurry's event was nothing short of a oral (aural?) and visual spectacle of the senses. I remember thinking last night, after the last act, how anyone could write about what we saw and heard last night. (I did take photos...lots) I am still debating to post some of the...how can I put this... some of the more sensitive ones of Curry crawling on the floor covered in nothing but Alpha-Bits. Formally, the piece was entitled OF GRAMMATOLOGY by the Toronto Research Group." - John W. MacDonald
------
"MESSAGIO GALORE take II: sound musings of jwcurry; accompanied by Max Middle and Jennifer Books
I made it to the Galore. And thankful that I did. (unfortunately drunk on one beer--yeesh--and a little too excited about the whole thing, but I did just come from a funeral and a day and night of wine, beer, tea, beer, tea, wine, and little sandwiches. You get the idea.) I have one thing to say. Well, more really, but here's one thing. I think if anyone that can make the next spectacle chooses not to attend, you're a fool. And not in that Shakespearian sense. I mean rather Fool=Dumbass." - Miss Wanda
------now jwcurry's programme for THIS versioned-performance #4------
"MESSAGIO GALORE take IV: performed by Alexander's Dark Band (jwcurry, Maria Erskine, Nicholas Power, Rob Read)
due to circumstances during which a certain amount of control was abandoned, a printed programme for this reading was not produced. for those for whom it may have some form of retroaural function, here're the acts of indiscretion we were able to accommodate.
part 1
______________________________________________________________________________
1. IT CAN'T HAPPEN HERE, Frank Zappa (quartet)*
2. DON'T LET THE NOISE BOTHER YOU, Gerry Gilbert
3. WELTWEHE, August Stramm
4. The Frog Variations, bpNichol
5. Salmon River Soliloquy, David UU
6. weeds, John Barlow
7. BALLADS OF THE RESTLESS ARE, bpNichol (duo: JC/NP)*
8. Hare Pronounced Hair, Rafael Barreto-Rivera/Paul Dutton/Steve McCaffery (trio: JC/NP/RR)*
9.The Tibetan Memory Trick, traditional; arranged by Flo & Eddie (quintet with Trish Postle)*
1o. from Boucliers megalomanes, Claude Gauvreau
11. from Megalomaniac Shields, Claude Gauvreau/translated by Ray Ellenwood
12. SHIFT 3, jwcurry/Peggy Lefler (intro: NP; duo: ME/RR)
13. The Man On The Flying Trapeze, Spike Jones/Doodles Weaver*
14. Devil-Trap Spiral, John Furnival
15. DAS GROSSE LALULA, Christian Morgenstern
16. INTERRUPTED NAP, bpNichol
17. KARAWANE, Hugo Ball
18. KNOTS, jwcurry (duo: ME/NP)
19. Monograms--Genealogy--Grammarology, bpNichol (quartet)
2o. Scraptures: 8th Sequence, bpNichol
21. LAND IS DOWN, jwcurry (intro: NP; duo: JC/RR)
22. Hee Shock Die, Diamanda Galas (quartet (with surprise audience participation))*
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(intromissium)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
part 2
__________________________________________________
23. Another Motive, Rafael Barreto-Rivera/bpNichol (quartet)
24. APPROXIMATE, Frank Zappa (quartet)*
25. TEN SEPHARDIC TRANSLATIONS, Richard Truhlar
26. Heights, Aleksei Kruchenykh
27. OPIUM MARBLE, jwcurry (duo: JC/RR)
28. East Wind, bpNichol (quartet)*
29. THE MAN IN THE LOWER LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE PHOTOGRAPH, Mike Patton*
3o. Corn Plasters & My Heart, David UU
31. TRACT, jwcurry
32. Canzone Rumorista, Fortunato Depero
33. thtr, Charles Stein
34. 16 Part Suite, Steve McCaffery/bpNichol (duo: JC/ME)
35. TAR TRAITS, Richard Truhlar
36. MUSHY PEAS, Steve McCaffery/bpNichol (duo: JC/NP)
37. ma meeshka mow squoz, Mike Patton
38. Pieces Of Stop, bpNichol (quartet)*
39. OF GRAMMATOLOGY, Steve McCaffery*
1. The Writing (intro: RR)
2. The Reading (incorporating: May all who enjoy inflicting pain on the powerless die fast and sad, John Barlow/Arthur S.Clark/A.Hoom/Jared Hope/Rebeccas Smart)
4o. "How The Pigs' Music Works", Frank Zappa (duo: NP/RR)*
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
*asterisked works were performed from new scores drafted by jwcurry, sourced either from recordings (transcribed & notated) or extant drafts (mainly a matter of spiffage for clarity). in any case of any of the material, some adjustments of various natures may have been visited upon the works for whatever reasons, i like to think not to their detriment. huge HUGE thankyou to Maria, Nick & Rob for bringing to this little hobbyproject a dedication, delight, determination & ability above & beyond the call of duty; it was a giddy pleasure to enoy the privilege of yr unquestioning & contributive support & i cannot tell you what it means to me to have earned, shared & worked with such trust over the week of rehearsal we put into this. - jwc (who web-penned & laid this out here on Mon, Oct 8th & using Dreamweaver no less folks - WOW!!!)
------A review of THIS versioned-performance #4 (found?) by John Barlow------
Re: [mailsnail] for nic and otheres whom issed it
i found this
\
some thoughts on the night:
This morning - waking at 12:45 after a particularly
determined and prolonged predawn drive
on the part of the lion to force me to open the window -
no, we shall have a team visit to the yard later -
finally unimpeded sleep for good hours -
enjoying the gifts: from curry, the memory
of a performance along with nick rob maria and tricia
that leaves one almost speechless,
the energy and memory and improvisational ability
and creativity of two good length sets -
no historical essay this example of sound poetry -
the 32 pieces weaved together new sound work,
sampled sound work (usually without annotation)
and sampled work of "us" in unspecified moments:
an excerpt from Weeds for instance, about my dad
with all oo098908oi809opii0980 stuff sounded fully
a version that is THEE version, as i never perform it
and even one straight up email i wrote years ago
on the dubius distinctions of genre in poetry -
work of others harder to guess, but it was said
that some rebecca draisey writing was in it,
forget who else - check the tape! Awesome in total.
- (by pen name): raincatjb (raincatpoetry@yahoo.ca; Sent: Tue 10/09/07 4:53 PM)
------
Re: [mailsnail] for nic and otheres whom issed it
max, maybe you should ask about curry's show
on smallpressers, as as many or more
from that list were at the event.
a couple other notes on it: curry's quartet
were as organized sharp and fast in transition
as any honest ed's theatre troupe could ever wish,
each at times showing remarkable endurance
and effortless spontaneity, in the midst of the
always bracing intense drives of the band leader.
Some of the baubles: a moment where he shrieked
"Turn out all the lights" and the place went dark
and the quartet dispersed shouting everywhere.
A moment where Curry stripped naked and
writhed about the floor in a way sure to bring minor
injury. I got a perfectly tasteful photo of this
and other parts, at a moment where the
little icon of public opprobrium was tucked away
neatly, instead 'revealing' the human animal
in its wholeness just as strange or not strange.
And another phase, once redressed,
where he filled his mouth with bright blue fluid
and read as best as could while it spilled and splattered.
Format: two long sets that both shot by
and a happy airiness at completion.
Writer's embellishment: the audience,
mostly thin but wiry nuns from st benedictine's well
had to be told again and again not to drum their feet
and the huge mythic bird circling over
eventually was identified as a ________.
All in all a very interesting night.
John
[mailsnail@yahoogroups.com on behalf of gardenofpoetics (gardenofpoetics@yahoo.ca); Sent: Thu 10/11/07 2:59 AM]
See you here @MAJLIS: 163 Walnut Ave.
---MAJLIS is between Richmond & Adelaide; 1-bk W. Niagara [2-Little Lights W. Bathurst]---[[[View Map]]]
Remember, our Shanger & Daughter Cafe is just here for some of your shangin' comfort needs. OK? Shang! Shang! Shangers!!!
bpNichol's Martyrology gang: (L-R) Steve Venright, jwcurry, David Owen, Nicky Drumbolis (on floor), Daniel Bradley, MC Shanger, John Barlow. (Photo: gustave morin)
About jwcurry:
"jwcurry" as John William Curry always spells his name, is better known to dee world as dee Pope of dee Canadian small book press. No one makes better self-made books & readings then writer/poet/publisher jwcurry. Just ask your friendly nieghbourhood poet, they'll tell you so? Y'arrr!!!
"Called "the best concrete and visual poet in Canada," curry is also one of the few who has been regularly working in the realm of sound poetry, working, producing and collecting for two decades (working his bookstore, Room 302 Books, curry has also been called the third largest collector of small press in the country, after Nelson Ball and Nicky Drumbolis (through his Letters Bookshop), and has for years been compiling the bpNichol bibliography, over 20,000 items large)." - Rob McLennan
((( jwcurry by MC Shanger )))
Browse our archives:
Event #10 - "TBA" (Sat, Oct 13, 2007) - come celebrate our first anniversary!!! Y'arrr!!!
Event #9 - "Ontario Provincial Election Night Open House" (Wed, Oct 10, 2007) - We are now cable-ready folks. Yeh!!! (((...Streaming server is next on our agenda...)))
jwcurry's - "Messagio Galore: a jwcurry quartet #4" (Sat, Oct 6, 2007)
Event #8 - "Kubrick's 2001 Trilogy" (Sat, Sept 15, 2007)
Event #7 - "Death House: dee Class of '93" (Mon, Sept 10, 2007)
Event #6 - "MC Shanger's 'Rushes Trilogy'" (Sat, Sept 29, 2007)
Event #5 - "Dario Argento's Goblin Trilogy" (Sat, Aug 25, 2007)
Event #4 - "a 20-hr Mario Bava mini-me Movie Marathon" (Fri&Sat, Aug 17&18, 2007)
Event #3 - "Remember Our Fallen Filmmakers Night!!!" (Sat, Nov 11, 2006)
Event #2 - "2 Banned Hell-o-ween Films" (Tues, Oct 31, 2006)
Event #1 - "12-hr 'Friday dee 13th' Movie Marathon" (Fri dee 13th of Oct, 2006)
Future events:
"Frederick Wiseman: Master Documenteur" (date TBA soon)
CONTACT & Mailing List additions: shanger@shangorama.com
Shang-O-Rama.com came on-line & was beamed-out from Toronto at precisely: 10:10am (10/11/06)
Can't wait for dee next Halloween - ACO & The Droogs gang rules that night!!! Viddy well Droogies...
© 2007 Gio. Shanger!!!