Multimedia Presentation in Philadelphia

From BowerBird.org:

To commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Raymond Scott's music, Jeff E. Winner of the Scott archives presents the life of the late composer and inventor with rare audio and video. This evening will include a 60 minute presentation by Winner and a complete screening (100 minutes) of the documentary, “DECONSTRUCTING DAD: The Music, Machines and Mystery of Raymond Scott.” The award-winning film, which Winner co-produced and appears in, features interviews with movie music composer John Williams ("Star Wars"), Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo, and DJ Spooky aka Paul D. Miller, as well as Raymond Scott's family, colleagues, and archival footage of Scott himself.

Jeff E. Winner is a music producer, historian, and researcher specializing in early electronica. He has written for the Oxford University Press "Grove Dictionary Of American Music," the MIT Press anthology "Sound Unbound" with Chuck D of Public Enemy, Moby, Scanner, and Steve Reich, features in "Electronic Musician" magazine, and liner notes for the DVD/CD series "OHM: The Early Gurus Of Electronic Music" with Sonic Youth, Bob Moog, John Cage, and Brian Eno. Mr. Winner was also editor and interviewer for "WE ARE DEVO," the band's only biographical book (Firefly Press).

• THIS EVENT IS FREE. Friday, March 16th, at 8pm. DETAILS: here

UPDATE: Irwin Chusid is now planning to join me for this event and participate.

Lincoln Center and Target® present:75th Anniversary concert celebration

Raymond Scott's original "Quintette" made its debut in December of 1936 (performing Scott's composition, "The Toy Trumpet"). On December 1st of 2011, the New York-based "Raymond Scott Orchestrette" will perform at the David Rubenstein Atrium at LINCOLN CENTER. This concert, which is part of the Target® Free Thursday Series, will begin the year-long series of events to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Scott's seminal band — and their classic tunes, like "Powerhouse," that launched his 50-year recording career. More info: here

Irwin adds: This is the first performance by the Orchestrette since 2004, and features the original line-up. The evening will include a cameo by Beth Sorrentino singing "The Toy Trumpet" and accompanying herself on piano. Lyrics to Scott's composition were added for the 1938 movie, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm.

New (free) organ arrangement of Scott's "In an 18th Century Drawing Room"

Our friend and fellow Scott-ologist Les Deutsch writes:

I have completed a second concert organ arrangement of a Raymond Scott title—"In an 18th Century Drawing Room." (I previously arranged "Powerhouse.") The setting is almost note-for-note accurate to the original Scott recording, including the use of an "organ harp," which is essentially a celesta keyed from the organ console. The organ in my recording is my latest virtual pipe organ design, the "Model 945." The organ is available free to those who already own the Hauptwerk virtual organ software, which is popular in many countries. The arrangement of 18CDR is also available for free to any organist with enough nerve to try it. It is not easy. Both the recording and the sheet music can be found on my web site.

Powerhouse by Charles Nunzio (1941)

We offered free sheet music for a vintage accordion arrangement of Scott's "Powerhouse" by Charles Nunzio in January 2009, and in October we noted the death of the famed accordionist at the age of 97. Following the latter post, accordionist Zevy Zions of oliveblossoms.com contacted us about an unreleased recording of Mr. Nunzio (who taught Zions) performing "Powerhouse" in concert in 1941. With the permission of Mr. Zions, we've posted an mp3 for free download. It's quite an astonishing virtuoso rendition. Wilder than a polka! We asked about the derivation of the recording. Tape was not widely known or available in 1941, yet the recording does not reflect the surface noise and crackle characteristic of 78s. Zions explained:

It was captured on some sort of disc recorder. Yes, the quality is relatively good. The performance is off-the-cuff; he's not following the written music. He didn’t remember it when I played it for him a few years ago.

Mr. Nunzio was conferred a Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Accordionists Association in November 2004.

Hudson Valley Holiday

This weekend, on December 5th, at 2:00 pm, the West Point Band presents the "Hudson Valley Holiday" concert, with the New York Philharmonic Principal Brass Quintet. Raymond Scott compositions will be featured. This performance will take place at the Eisenhower Hall Theatre, on the West Point campus, New York, and is free and open to the public. Details: here — and watch new "Introducing QUINTETE 7" video: here

UPDATE — Band member Brian Broelmann adds: "The Quintette 7 will be starting at 2:00 in the lobby. The show with the NY Phil Brass Quintet will start at 3:00. Quintette 7 is kind of like the opening act, presenting some all new arrangements of holiday tunes as well as some Raymond Scott favorites. Don't miss it!"

Charles Nunzio, R.I.P., 97

In January 2009, we offered a free pdf of Scott's "Powerhouse" arranged for accordion by Charles Nunzio. The offer still stands; just drop us an email.

Comes word now from a squeezebox aficionado that Mr. Nunzio passed away on October 19 at the age of 97 (obit here). Mr. Nunzio had a long and distinguished career, commencing with a 1933 debut recital at New York's Town Hall, followed by a performance at Carnegie Hall the following year. He co-founded the American Accordionists Association, and served in the Navy during World War II.

Following his discharge, Mr. Nunzio invented his own custom-designed accordion, the Nunziola (photo, R), and he held a patent on the Kuehl Free-Bass accordion (which he co-developed with William "Bud" Kuehl).

During an 80-year musical career, Nunzio was a composer, arranger, performer, teacher, inventor, and tireless proponent of his instrument. We're honored to keep his arrangement of Scott's most well-known composition in circulation for future generations of accordionists.

Here, the master discusses the 20th century evolution of his instrument.

Here, in 1990, as he approaches age 80, Nunzio performs a spirited solo rendition of "El Cumbanchero."

Jean Shepherd:"You'll Shoot Your Eye Out, Kid!"

Although best-known as writer and narrator of the classic 1983 holiday movie, A CHRISTMAS STORY, Jean Shepherd began a long radio career in 1948. He was not a traditional DJ who kept silent while playing records; he was a monologist who carefully chose music beds to underscore his unique narrative style. At least twice he pontificated over Raymond Scott:

 • In 1965 Shep, fascinated by Scott's SOOTHING SOUNDS FOR BABY electronic lullaby series, built an entire program theme around it, according SSFB perhaps its only airplay until the CD reissues more than 3 decades later.

 • The following year, Shep delivered one of his trademark rants about amusement parks as he spun "In An 18th Century Drawing Room," which Scott composed in 1937: listen here.

Library Of Congress

The Library Of Congress in Washington D.C. will host a special screening of the new Raymond Scott documentary, DECONSTRUCTING DAD, directed by Scott's son, Stanley Warnow, on Monday, April 12th, at 7:00 pm. Warnow will introduce his film which threads Warner Brothers Looney Tunes cartoon excerpts, rare home movies, and interviews with noted Scott fans John Williams, Don Byron, Mark Mothersbaugh, Hal Wilner, DJ Spooky, and Herb Deutsch (co-inventor of the Moog Synthesizer).

Details from the LoC site: James Madison Building, 3rd Floor, Mary Pickford Theater. No tickets required; the program is free, but seating is limited. Reservations may be made by phone, beginning one week before the showing. Call 202-707-5677 during business hours (Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm). Reserved seats must be claimed at least 10 minutes before show time, after which standbys will be admitted to unclaimed seats. UPDATE: Contrary the info on the site, the LoC phone message indicates that reservations are NOT being accepted for this screening, & will instead be available strictly on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early to claim your seat.

>>> More info at: loc.org

"A fascinating look at a musical genius and the way he lived his life. Stan Warnow allows us to share his journey of discovery as he pieces together the story of his father. I thoroughly enjoyed it."

—LEONARD MALTIN

Free Concert at NDSU

The Faculty Chamber Players of North Dakota State University presents "The Music of Raymond Scott," a free, live performance of Scott's "deliriously inventive freak jazz."

• WHEN: Tuesday, March 30th, at 7:30 PM
• WHERE: Plains Art Museum
• MORE INFO: here

Raymond Scott for the accordion

Last year we offered in pdf format free vintage accordion charts for Scott's "Powerhouse" and "The Toy Trumpet." The offer stands.

Squeezebox practitioner Dionne Hauke (who received our charts) sends along the above ad from the back cover of an unrelated piece of 1940s sheet music. If you're aware of other Scott titles arranged for instruments other than piano or bands, please drop us a note.

Dionne Hauke (right), proprietor of Ziggie's Music, Phoenix AZ

Powerhouse for Concert Organ

Our friend and fellow Scottologist Les Deutsch has been transcribing classic 1937-39 Raymond Scott Quintette recordings into first-time-on-paper sextette charts. (Scott did not use charts with his band; he taught parts by ear via keyboard example.) Les has also been creating new arrangements for vintage Scott works, and recently configured "Powerhouse" for concert organ. The chart can be downloaded as a free pdf here, and you can grab an mp3 of Deutsch's performance of the arrangement here.

About the fabricated cover image above, Les explains:

"The pipes are from the organ prop used in Disney’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea as Captain Nemo’s salon organ aboard the Nautilus. I remember seeing this set on display at Disneyland in the mid-1960s. The organ console later made its way into Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride, where it sits today – but minus this whimsical set of pipes. I searched the Web and found a photo someone had taken of the old Disneyland exhibit."

iPhone Ringtones

In the 1960s, Raymond Scott coined the term "Tele-Tones" to describe what we now call ringtones. Thanks to musician, arranger, and RS fan Les Deutsch, you can now download free Raymond Scott ringtones formatted specifically for iPhone. Details from Les: "I could have converted the original recordings to ringtones, but I really enjoy the quirky synthesizer sounds that the Mac’s internal QuickTime app generates directly from Finale."

Download linked files: Powerhouse Sleepwalker Microphone Music Egyptian Barn Dance Boy Scout in Switzerland

The Toy Trumpet for accordion

Another eBay score: like "Powerhouse" for accordion which we offered free for the asking last week, here's "The Toy Trumpet." Drop us a line and request the chart as pdf.

Powerhouse accordion-style

Snared on eBay—cheap. Five-page sheet music now scanned and cleaned up. Got a squeezebox? Want a free pdf? Drop us a note, ask nice.

Vintage uncertain: "Powerhouse" was composed by Scott and copyrighted by Circle Music, his original publishing company, in 1937. Circle was listed on this accordion chart as publisher. However, Circle ceased to exist in 1943 when Scott's catalog was sold to Warner Bros., who folded it into their Advanced Music Corp. holdings.

In 1964, U.S. rights to "Powerhouse" and hundreds of other Scott titles reverted to the composer, who sold most of them to Music Sales Corp., the current publisher. Warner retained non-U.S. international rights, now controlled by the umbrella corporation Warner-Chappell. Scott retained about one hundred copyrights for his self-owned publishing company Gateway Music.

The 1943 sale of Circle rights to Warner provided the foundation for Carl Stalling's freedom to adapt Scott compositions in Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies.

Hat tip to Jeff Winner for the eBay alerts.