Pipe organs that sound like the end of the world.
December 9, 2015 8:19 PM Subscribe
What are some recommendations? I'm looking for songs like the new Oneohtrix Point Never song Freaky Eyes... or the scene in Akira where Neo Tokyo is being destroyed by Tetsuo's singularity. Songs that sound like world is ending, played on organs the size of cathedrals.
It's an odd itch, but I need it scratched. Thanks in advance!
It's an odd itch, but I need it scratched. Thanks in advance!
Dj Shadow - Organ Donor is a good one.
posted by Jon Mitchell at 9:02 PM on December 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Jon Mitchell at 9:02 PM on December 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
I don't think you can do better than Sunn O)))'s Dømkirke, a live recording of the band, whose thing is pretty much apocalyptic doom metal, performing in the Bergen Cathedral, built before the 12th Century, using the church's organ. I'm thinking the track "Cannon" specifically, but really the entire album. I saw them live at the First Unitarian Church in Philly, and the show started with (20? 30?) minutes of the church's organ playing while the church filled with smoke from the dozens of candles lighting the room (and which were the only lighting in the room).
Also, Tim Hecker's Ravedeath, 1972, ALSO recorded in a Scandinavian cathedral (this one in Iceland, and yeah, I'm just putting these together), the central theme of which is degradation of music. FYI, Hecker's previously collaborated with Tim Lopatin (who is Oneohtrix Point Never) on the Instrumental Tourist album.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 9:54 PM on December 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
Also, Tim Hecker's Ravedeath, 1972, ALSO recorded in a Scandinavian cathedral (this one in Iceland, and yeah, I'm just putting these together), the central theme of which is degradation of music. FYI, Hecker's previously collaborated with Tim Lopatin (who is Oneohtrix Point Never) on the Instrumental Tourist album.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 9:54 PM on December 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
I can't play any of these suggestions at the moment, but BIG organ? Pierrre Cochereau, Grand Organ Notre Dame. Put on yr headphones and prepare to be blasted away, the Te Deum [Alternatim].
posted by TWinbrook8 at 10:04 PM on December 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by TWinbrook8 at 10:04 PM on December 9, 2015 [2 favorites]
Yeah, Ravedeath 1972 is prob my no. 1 album of the last decade.
Also worth looking at is Always Breathing Monster by September Collective. Not as end-of-the-world-y as you'd like, but still incredible. Three electronic musicians (incl. Stephan Schneider of To Rococo Rot) program a big ol' cathedral organ via MIDI and make it do, ah, unexpected things.
posted by BrunoLatourFanclub at 10:04 PM on December 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also worth looking at is Always Breathing Monster by September Collective. Not as end-of-the-world-y as you'd like, but still incredible. Three electronic musicians (incl. Stephan Schneider of To Rococo Rot) program a big ol' cathedral organ via MIDI and make it do, ah, unexpected things.
posted by BrunoLatourFanclub at 10:04 PM on December 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
Sun O)))'s newest, Kannon, is apparently brilliant.
posted by lumensimus at 11:41 PM on December 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by lumensimus at 11:41 PM on December 9, 2015 [1 favorite]
György Ligeti - Volumina
Iannis Xenakis - Gmeeoorh
posted by misteraitch at 1:29 AM on December 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
Iannis Xenakis - Gmeeoorh
posted by misteraitch at 1:29 AM on December 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
Not exactly performed on an organ, but there is Joe Satriani's Hill Of The Skull and portions King Crimson's Court Of The Crison King (featuring Mellotron) that certainly have that apocalyptic vibe.
posted by sourwookie at 7:31 PM on December 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by sourwookie at 7:31 PM on December 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
I don't know if Ligeti's Volumina, as recommended by misteraitch is what you're looking for, but it is an excellent and fascinating piece. The piece is based on tone clusters and notated nontraditionally, which was unusual for Ligeti (not for Xenakis, though). It even calls for turning off the blower while the organ is playing and letting the sound die.
Tatiana Sergeeva's Sonata for Cello and Organ is a wide-ranging and colorful piece, and at times it absolutely sounds like the skies have opened. Unfortunately, it's only available on this recording and there are no previews I can link to. A bayan (Russian chromatic button accordion) is not quite as grand as an organ, but you might still like The Dark Rose.
There's always the six organ symphonies by Louis Vierne, which use the instrument on a grand scale, or the ten organ symphonies by his predecessor and teacher Charles-Marie Widor.
Another piece that seems to have larger than human scale is Einojuhani Rautavaara's Annunciations.
posted by musicinmybrain at 6:42 AM on December 11, 2015 [2 favorites]
Tatiana Sergeeva's Sonata for Cello and Organ is a wide-ranging and colorful piece, and at times it absolutely sounds like the skies have opened. Unfortunately, it's only available on this recording and there are no previews I can link to. A bayan (Russian chromatic button accordion) is not quite as grand as an organ, but you might still like The Dark Rose.
There's always the six organ symphonies by Louis Vierne, which use the instrument on a grand scale, or the ten organ symphonies by his predecessor and teacher Charles-Marie Widor.
Another piece that seems to have larger than human scale is Einojuhani Rautavaara's Annunciations.
posted by musicinmybrain at 6:42 AM on December 11, 2015 [2 favorites]
Pipeorgankind, which does in fact accompany a more-or-less world-ending point in the story it's for.
posted by Drexen at 9:16 AM on December 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Drexen at 9:16 AM on December 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: hahahahahahah "mark resolved"
thanks everyone for the recommendations!
posted by special agent conrad uno at 12:08 AM on December 13, 2015
thanks everyone for the recommendations!
posted by special agent conrad uno at 12:08 AM on December 13, 2015
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Koyaanisqatsi
The Interstellar Soundtrack
posted by bluecore at 8:43 PM on December 9, 2015 [1 favorite]