The Partially Answered Question: Does Quotation Belong In Music?

Charles Ulrich
Zappanale 30
July 19, 2019

[An audio recording of this talk is available from Zappateers.]

A. Composed quotations

  1. Richard Berry, “Louie Louie”, 1957.
  2. FZ, “Plastic People”, Joe’s Corsage, 1966.

B. Improvised quotations

  1. George Gershwin, “It Ain’t Necessarily So”, 1935. Sung here by Paul Robeson, 1938.
  2. Traditional, “St. James Infirmary”. Sung here by Cab Calloway, 1930.
  3. FZ, “It Ain’t Necessarily The Saint James Infirmary”, Guitar, 1982.

C. Igor Stravinsky

  1. Igor Stravinsky, “Ritual Of The Ancestors”, The Rite Of Spring, 1913.
  2. Igor Stravinsky, “Introduction”, The Rite Of Spring, 1913.
  3. Igor Stravinsky, “Lullaby”, The Firebird, 1910.
  4. FZ, “Amnesia Vivace”, Absolutely Free, 1967.

D. Self-quotations

  1. FZ, “Dwarf Nebula Processional March”, Weasels Ripped My Flesh, 1967/1968.
  2. FZ, “Dwarf Nebula Processional March” at half speed.
  3. FZ, “Dog Breath Variations”, Uncle Meat, 1967/1968.

E. Charles Ives

  1. Charles Ives, “The Unanswered Question”, 1908, revised 1935.
  2. FZ, “Cold Light Generation”, Civilization, Phaze III, 1991.
  3. FZ, “You Like The Knicks?”, Civilization, Phaze III (unreleased early version), 1991.
  4. Irving Berlin, “God Bless America”, 1918, revised 1938. Sung here by Kate Smith.
  5. Samuel Ward, “Materna” (“America The Beautiful”), 1883.
  6. Jacques Offenbach, “Gendarmes’ Duet” (“Marines’ Hymn”), 1867.
  7. FZ, “Soft-Sell Conclusion”, Absolutely Free, 1967.

F. “Secret melody”

  1. Rod Argent, “She’s Not There”, 1964. Performed here by Santana, 1977.
  2. FZ, “If Only She Woulda”, early show, Paris, June 11, 1980.
  3. FZ, “I Don’t Wanna Get Drafted”, early show, Paris, June 11, 1980.
  4. FZ, “Why Does It Hurt When I Pee?”, early show, Paris, June 11, 1980.
  5. FZ, “Illinois Enema Bandit”, early show, Paris, June 11, 1980.

G. Unidentified “secret melody”

  1. FZ, “Drowning Witch”, Genoa, July 5, 1982.
  2. FZ, “Stinkfoot”, Genoa, July 5, 1982.
  3. FZ, “City Of Tiny Lights”, Genoa, July 5, 1982.
  4. FZ, “A Pound For A Brown”, Genoa, July 5, 1982.

H. Three generations of musical quotation

  1. Alexei Lvov, “God Save The Tsar”, 1833.
  2. Pyotr Tchaikovsky, “1812 Overture”, 1880.
  3. Ben E. King, Lover Patterson, & George Treadwell, “There Goes My Baby”, 1959. String arrangement by Belford “Sinky” Hendricks. Performed by The Drifters.
  4. Ben E. King, Lover Patterson, & George Treadwell, “There Goes My Baby”, 1959. String arrangement by Belford “Sinky” Hendricks. Performed by The Drifters.
  5. FZ, “Reader’s Digest Medley”, Washington, February 10, 1988.

References