In Memoriam Crazy Horse (symphony) (1963)

AMG Review of In Memoriam Crazy Horse (symphony) (1963)

"Blue" Gene Tyranny
All Music Guide

This piece is scored for 20 (or more) wind, string or other sustaining instruments in five (or more) groups of four (or more) instruments per group. The score is notated in the form of a circle with 64 numbered radii. There is a juxtaposition throughout the piece of even and odd, regular and irregular, with the durations of sound and silence given in the notation -- especially of different "states of ensemble [e.g., as noisy/dissonant as possible, as pure/harmonious as possible]" (Ashley). An orchestra of "organic groups" is created: "The purpose is, perhaps, not just a new 'freedom' for the individual performer" (a performer chooses the sounds he/she makes) "but a contemporary 'freedom-obligation' that can bring the performer back into the orchestra with a more imaginative role"; the sound is contributed to the overall ensemble sound-density of that performer's particular instrumental group. The resultant massed orchestral sound is one of a constantly fascinating field of extremes of sound in motion.

in memoriam Crazy Horse (symphony) is one of four pieces written at this same time which describe in musical dynamics both societal and musical forms -- the others are in memoriam...Estaban Gomez (quartet) for four players, in memoriam...John Smith (concerto) for three players and assistants and in memoriam...Kit Carson (opera) for eight-part ensemble.