Rene Zosso on YouTube

Subject: RENE ZOSSO ON YOU TUBE
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 05:52 AM

Three short clips of Rene Zosso & Anne Osnowycz from a concert in Geneva on August 2nd this year:

Langcan Li Jorn

Bonne Amourette

De Aspis

Subject: RE: RENE ZOSSO ON YOU TUBE
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 06:09 AM

WHY SHOUT SO LOUD?

My enjoyment of Bonne Amourette was spoiled by whoever from the audience was singing along near the camera mic. And I found Rene's performance on Li Jorn and De Aspis too theatrical by far, drawing (unintentionally, I am sure of that) attention to himself rather than the piece he was performing. But that's my personal view, others may feel different.

Rene is credited with the revival of the hurdy-gurdy, but I would not call him a master of it; others have surpassed him. Which is OK by Rene, I am sure, as it is not technical mastery he was ever after, but avande-garde performance and composition.

Subject: RE: RENE ZOSSO ON YOU TUBE
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 09:45 AM

Personal views are all we've got, George - and although many would aspire to the objective absolute, that can never be the case with such an idiosyncratic figure as Rene Zosso.

I can't think of any hurdy-gurdy player who's surpassed Rene with respect to the innovations that have been a crucial feature of his work since the off. This is something that goes beond mere technical mastery into another realm of sonic experience that might be considered avant-garde on one hand, but is in fact rooted in something darkly primal. I think of Rene as the last of the great medieval modernists - never exactly easy listening, but all the more rewarding because of it.

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ALLCAPS (shouting) removed from thread title.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: RENE ZOSSO ON YOU TUBE
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 10:16 AM

I'll agree with your last sentence, Sedayne!

I have nothing against experimentation and the breaking of moulds, but I am first and foremost driven by expressiveness in my admiration of musicians. When the former helps the latter, great! But all too often I wonder whether some experimentation is taking place for its own sake; when does one say "enough for the day, let's break more moulds tomorrow, but let's now consolidate and use what we learned to improve the emotional output of the music". I am speaking generically here, not necessarily about Rene himself.