Frank Zappa The Greatest Composer in American History Frank Zappa is one of greatest musical composers in the history of the United States, and can partly define the meaning of true self expression and hate for the normal mainstream way of life. Much of his music can be considered absurd, obscure, confusing, and very controversial and can take some getting used too, but also presents influences that make up an easy listening sound for everybody to enjoy. His career which lasted more than 30 years almost completely self produced more than 60 albums stretched music from hard rock to free-form jazz or even a country song or two. He was also involved in film, art work, and politics.
Zappa’s inspirations are a key part in his success as a composer. He started playing with percussion instruments at a young age; this is a talent that showed up in his career as Zappa’s bands are highly acclaimed for their percussion. Works written by Zappa such as “the Black Page” have been cited as one of the most complex rhythm structures ever and one of his own drummers Terry Bozzio is known as one of the greatest drummers in the world. Zappa also became known as one of the greatest guitarists of all time; upon receiving a guitar he developed his own personal style which he considered to be the equivalent of “air sculpting”. During the end of high school he was also composing and conducting works for his school orchestra. Because of these influences, Zappa had amazing knowledge and creative ability with rhythm structures and song framework. He also tried to be severely precise and in tune with almost any jam or show or recording, making it possible for him to record all these things and mix them together randomly to create a masterpiece.
Imagine walking into an empty room, but then a herd of animals, clowns, cars, and businessmen come strolling out of the wall making the most noise they can with a faint saxophone in the background, and then it’s all gone as soon as it was there with only a bassist and a xylophone player in the middle of the room playing up and down the notes at a steady pace which is soon joined by a drummers high hat and snare when you hear a deep voice that sounds like a mountain speaking within your head making you feel as if your spinning and loosing your mind once you realize the sound crept its way back into the herd of animals for a split second and everything goes silent to the sound of what you might think is a seal crying out for help in the background. That’s what a Zappa song sounds like.
Zappa was also involved in politics and freedom of speech rights as well. When the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) started slapping warning labels on what they considered to be offensive and mind altering music to kids, Zappa slapped his own disclaimer on his albums:
“WARNING! This album contains material which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress. The language and concepts contained herein are guaranteed not to cause eternal torment in the place where the guy with the horns and pointed stick conducts his business. This guarantee is as real as the threats of the video fundamentalists who use attacks on rock music in their attempt to transform America into a nation of check-mailing nincompoops (in the name of Jesus Christ). If there is a hell, it’s fires wait for them, not us.”
He also made another attack comparing the PMRC to the situation of the Holocaust where they made Jews where big Js to show they were Jewish. These things were something Zappa strongly opposed and he deserves much credit for the progress and influence he has contributed to the rights to freedom of expression and speech.
Zappa's music has been inspirational not only to advante-garde experimental music, but to key artists in the history of music, the Beatles notably, were very influenced by Zappa's band's first album "Freak Out", helping them produce their album "Sargent Peppers Lonely Hearts Clubs Band". Through the inspirations he has given other bands, the skill, and imagination he has shown, not only through himself but through others as well, he is one of the only people who I can actually consider a Musical Genius and his masterpiece's are a must listen before you die.
Zappa’s inspirations are a key part in his success as a composer. He started playing with percussion instruments at a young age; this is a talent that showed up in his career as Zappa’s bands are highly acclaimed for their percussion. Works written by Zappa such as “the Black Page” have been cited as one of the most complex rhythm structures ever and one of his own drummers Terry Bozzio is known as one of the greatest drummers in the world. Zappa also became known as one of the greatest guitarists of all time; upon receiving a guitar he developed his own personal style which he considered to be the equivalent of “air sculpting”. During the end of high school he was also composing and conducting works for his school orchestra. Because of these influences, Zappa had amazing knowledge and creative ability with rhythm structures and song framework. He also tried to be severely precise and in tune with almost any jam or show or recording, making it possible for him to record all these things and mix them together randomly to create a masterpiece.
Imagine walking into an empty room, but then a herd of animals, clowns, cars, and businessmen come strolling out of the wall making the most noise they can with a faint saxophone in the background, and then it’s all gone as soon as it was there with only a bassist and a xylophone player in the middle of the room playing up and down the notes at a steady pace which is soon joined by a drummers high hat and snare when you hear a deep voice that sounds like a mountain speaking within your head making you feel as if your spinning and loosing your mind once you realize the sound crept its way back into the herd of animals for a split second and everything goes silent to the sound of what you might think is a seal crying out for help in the background. That’s what a Zappa song sounds like.
Zappa was also involved in politics and freedom of speech rights as well. When the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) started slapping warning labels on what they considered to be offensive and mind altering music to kids, Zappa slapped his own disclaimer on his albums:
“WARNING! This album contains material which a truly free society would neither fear nor suppress. The language and concepts contained herein are guaranteed not to cause eternal torment in the place where the guy with the horns and pointed stick conducts his business. This guarantee is as real as the threats of the video fundamentalists who use attacks on rock music in their attempt to transform America into a nation of check-mailing nincompoops (in the name of Jesus Christ). If there is a hell, it’s fires wait for them, not us.”
He also made another attack comparing the PMRC to the situation of the Holocaust where they made Jews where big Js to show they were Jewish. These things were something Zappa strongly opposed and he deserves much credit for the progress and influence he has contributed to the rights to freedom of expression and speech.
Zappa's music has been inspirational not only to advante-garde experimental music, but to key artists in the history of music, the Beatles notably, were very influenced by Zappa's band's first album "Freak Out", helping them produce their album "Sargent Peppers Lonely Hearts Clubs Band". Through the inspirations he has given other bands, the skill, and imagination he has shown, not only through himself but through others as well, he is one of the only people who I can actually consider a Musical Genius and his masterpiece's are a must listen before you die.
1 comment:
Nice work. Please be sure to get moving on Writing Four so you will have it on time.
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