Frank Zappa came to music by Edgar Varèse in his teens and was, according to Pierre Boulez, “hypnotized by [music of] Edgar Varèse.” The influence of this music was not so much that Zappa became a follower of Varèse, but that it stimulated his ambitions to become a composer. On this episode of New Sounds, hear music composed by the late guitarist and innovator, Frank Zappa. Listen to some of his dense and demanding work written for the Ensemble Intercontemporain (and commissioned by Boulez.) Hear The Ensemble Modern, Zappa's "last band," from their recent CD of Zappa’s works, along with brass arrangements of Zappa tunes by the Meridian Arts Ensemble. Plus, Frank Zappa spins Baroque composer Francesco Zappa’s classical pieces on his Synclavier and the Finnish Ensemble Ambrosius plays Zappa's music on Baroque instruments.

PROGRAM #2283, The "Classical" Frank Zappa (First aired 5/12/2004)

ARTIST(S)	RECORDING	CUT(S)	SOURCE
Frank Zappa	Hot Rats	Peaches En Regalia, excerpt [2:00]	Rykodisc #10508** www.rykodisc.com
Ensemble Modern/Frank Zappa	Greggery Peccary And Other Persuasions	Peaches En Regalia [3:00] A Pig With Wings [4:30] Revised Music For Low Budget Orchestra [7:30] What Will Rumi Do? [1:30] Night School [5:30]	RCA Red Seal 82876-59842 www.bmgclassics.com OR direct from EM www.ensemble-modern.com
Ensemble Ambrosius	live	Night School [4:30]	This performance is available for download from Ensemble Ambrosius' site: www.ensembleambrosius.com There is a recorded version on the Ensemble Ambrosius' record, "The Zappa Album" BIS/Northern Lights 5013, distr. in the USA by Qualiton Imports www.qualiton.com
Francesco Zappa/ arr. Frank Zappa	Zappa plays Zappa	Trio Sonata #1 [3:00]	Barking Pumpkin #74202, reissued on Rykodisc #10546 Available through Available for purchase at Amazon.com*
Ensemble Ambrosius	live	Uncle Meat [4:00]	See above.
Duo Sonare	Plays Zappa, Debussy, Albeniz, Piazzola	Uncle Meat [2:30]	Sound Star-ton #31111, out of print, but try Amazon.de (B0000289GJ ) Info about the Duo at www.duosonare.de
Meridian Arts Ensemble	Smart Went Crazy	T'mershi Duween [1:39] Dupree's Paradise [3:00]	Channel Classics #4192, www.channelclassics.com OR available through Available for purchase at Amazon.com*
Fireworks	First Tracks	Zappa: The Black Page #2 [3:30]	Available at cdbaby.com/cd/fireworksmusic01 Info at www.fireworks-ensemble.org

*, ** - Find the recordings you've heard - go to the New Sounds Recordings Information page