A rich collection of chamber works hailing from the minimalist tradition of the 1980s. Highly colorful works performed by an American new music ensemble.
Zeitgeist released Duplex as a LP in 1980, just three years after the group began working together. The album features four works written for, or by, Zeitgeist. Duplex was produced by Jay Johnson and engineered by Russell Borud. Image for the album is a painting by Greg Kelsey.
THIS (a contracrostipunctus) for Frederic Rzewski and Douglas Hofstadter, IS an opportunity to adJUST to circles of reference and TIME, because a variety of "meanings" are available in (this) unusual interplay of an invertible text AND a looping melody which apparently refer to each and YOU; however, if you TAKE your TIME (AND you are) YOU may HEAR JUST both, which is MUSIC, which IS an opportunity to adJUST to circles of reference and TIME, because a variety of "meanings" are available in (this) unusual interplay. Performed by Joseph Holmquist and Jay Johnson, percussion; James DeMars, piano.
In the collectively composed MUSIC FOR KLEIST, severe changes in mood reflect the character of Kleist's life and work (particularly a short story entitled "Earthquake in Chile," which provided the dramatic frame for the composition). Dramatic, Performed by Joseph Holmquist and Jay Johnson, percussion; James DeMars, piano; Homer Lambrecht, trombone, Pat Moriarty, saxophone.
SPINNGEWEBE, by Tristan Fuentes, was inspired by the way a spider weaves its web, first spinning a framework and then adding the spiral. Written for Zeitgeist, the piece was premiered July 25, 1980. Performed by Joseph Holmquist and Jay Johnson, percussion; Greg Theisen, piano.
SIGNATURE ONE: A MENDELSSOHN FANTASY was commissioned by the Jerome Foundation for Zeitgeist and received its premiere at Carnegie Recital Hall October 18, 1980 in New York. Performed by Joseph Holmquist and Jay Johnson, percussion; James DeMars, piano.