Cords

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
There's a lot to listen to on Cords, enough to keep it from being background music. Larry Fast, recording under the project name Synergy, must be credited for helping make electronic music accessible to a wider audience; Cords, originally released in 1978, is both an enjoyable and thought-provoking listen. Some pieces, such as "Phobos and Deimos Go to Mars" (which sounds rather like a Rush song) and "Full Moon Flyer," are primarily tonal, while other pieces, notably the three-part "On Presuming to Be Modern," have a more sophisticated structure. Either way, Synergy's music is different enough to surprise, accessible enough to be highly listenable. --Genevieve Williams

Cords,Synergy,Polygram Records,Electronic,Pop,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Rock,Rock/Pop

Cords

Tracks:

Arabian Waltz
Night of the Flying Horses Suite
Galloping Horses
Song of Eight Unruly Tipsy Poets
Shristi
The Silent City
Ambush from Ten Sides
Vocussion

Amazon.com

For Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble, New Impossibilities capt ures an extraordinary yearlong Silk Road Chicago celebration. Partnering with th e City of Chicago and its leading arts and cultural organizations, in performanc es, exhibitions, and workshops, the Silk Road Project traced the weave of tradit ion and innovation through Chicago. In New Impossibilities, recorded duri ng a series of sold-out concerts at Daniel Burnham's historic Orchestra Hall, Yo -Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble convey the essence of their unique creative cu ltural exchange.

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beauty, simplicity, and utility
Words and Music Marry in Siegfried's Arrangements

Gentle Words: Shaker Songs
Polly M. Rupe , John Whitbey , Issachar Bates , David Stutz , Ann Glusker , Lisa Cardwell Ponten , The Tudor Choir , and Doug Fullington
Manufacturer: Loft Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Simple Gifts: Shaker Chants and Spirituals
Simple Gifts
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Tree of Life
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ASIN: B00005JIZK
Release Date: 2001-06-05

Tracks:

I Will Bow And Be Simple
In Yonder Valley
All Is Summer
O Lord Make Me Pure
Love Is Little
The Burning Day
Circular March
Help Me, O Lord
Heavenly Display
Followers Of The Lamb
Come To Zion
We Must Be Meek
Lay Me Low
Solemn Song
Beautiful Treasure
Peace
Angels Of Heaven
Hunger And Thirst
Dismission Of Great I
Revelation
Prayer For The Captive
Gentle Words
Beautiful Valley
Jubilee
Ezekiel's Vision
Almighty Savior
Cords Of Love
I Will Go On My Way

Customer Reviews:

beauty, simplicity, and utility.......2001-09-12

Of this CD's twenty-eight tracks, eighteen are arrangements by Kevin Siegfried; the remaining ten are straightforward, unadorned performances of Shaker hymns, sung either by the choir in unison, or by a solo voice, as they would have been sung in Shaker services. Occasionally the choir stomps and claps, also as the Shakers would have done. The unison songs and Kevin's settings blend seamlessly together, since Kevin's music is very sensitive to the spirit of the original tunes. His harmonies have an open, rough-hewn quality to them, like early American furniture, sturdy and useful. The music carefully mirrors and supports the text, occasionally employing mixed meter to follow the natural cadences of speech. The settings are largely homophonic, like Lutheran chorales, rendering the text easily comprehensible. Kevin avoids unnecessary embellishments and repetitions, and each piece is a small, well-proportioned gem, averaging about two minutes in length. In the liner notes, Kevin writes of his desire to preserve the Shaker ideals of "beauty, simplicity, and utility" in his settings, and he has succeeded brilliantly; the music is unassuming, serene, and peaceful.

Words and Music Marry in Siegfried's Arrangements.......2001-06-27

This recording of Shaker Hymns arranged by composer Kevin Siegfried and sung by the very fine Tudor Choir of Seattle is magnificent for several reasons chief of which is the careful blending of text and music in the arrangements. The "gentle words" of these hymns come alive through Siegfried's thoughtful soundscapes, providing the right context for the message of these poignant and life affirming hymns. This is no small task and although the Tudor Choir sings beautifully throughout, it is the arranging that has really caught my ear on this cd; you'd be hard pressed to find a recording of choral works with a better marriage of text and music. Well worth your money, time, and ears.

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My second favorite Synergy album
Stands Up After 30 Years
melodic depth
A return, of sorts, to the beginnings.

Cords
Synergy
Manufacturer: Voiceprint UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Games
Sequencer
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Audion
The Jupiter Menace

ASIN: B0001BH6HS
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Tracks:

On Presuming to Be Modern
Phobos
Deimos
Sketches of Mythical Beasts
Disruption in World Communications
On Presuming to Be Modern II
Small Collection of Chords
Full Moon Flyer
Terra Incognita
Trellis
On Presuming to Be Modern III
Phobos & Deimos [Radio Edit]

Album Description

Cords was the third album to be released from Synergy and was originally released in 1978 whilst Larry Fast was recording and working with Peter Gabriel on his second solo album. The album is wholly composed and performed by Larry fast and contains the tracks Full Moon Flyer, Trellis and Terra Incognita. Cords has been re mastered for release alongside the other Synergy releases, which will be re released over the coming six months.

Album Description

The man behind Synergy is Larry Fast a native of New Jersey who was to have a far-reaching effect on the use of synthesizers in rock music during the seventies & eighties. 'Cords' was the third album to be released by Synergy & was originally released in 1978 while Larry Fast was recording & working with Peter Gabriel on his second solo album. Remastered with one bonus track 'On Presuming To Be Modern III'. Voiceprint Records. 2004.

Customer Reviews:

My second favorite Synergy album.......2007-03-24

While I like Sequencer a little better than Chords, I like Chords better than the first album.

My incentive to post a review though is that the editorial blurb states :
"The album is wholly composed and performed by Larry fast"
which I believe is incorrect.

Chords was the first Synergy album to include any form of guitar work, specifically in the form of an early prototype synth guitar and it was performed by someone other than Mr. Fast.

Really interesting stuff though, with a 'darker' feel than the first two albums. This one is a must have for synthesizer fans in my humble opinion.

Stands Up After 30 Years.......2007-01-10

This album blew me away in 1977 as a thoughtful, fast-forward use of electronic instrumentation for melodic music. While others around were utilizing similar technology, this album is truly inspired with music commensurate with the instrumentation (technology) that moves from beginning to end with the right mix of excitement and understatement making this a truly classic recording.

melodic depth.......2006-10-06

I own an original 1978 "clear" vinyl copy of CORDS which I am afraid to put a needle to. So this CD allows me to listen to this synthesizer masterpiece at will. CORDS stood out from the other electronica of that era due to its advanced layering and oceanic depth. Even in today's electronica genre this project has a fresh sound. An assemblage of titles which posses an ominous "breathing" quality about them.

A return, of sorts, to the beginnings........2005-12-11

This album is more like Electronic Realizations for Rock Orchestra than like Sequencer. If you liked the original Synergy album ER you'll probably like this one. If you like Sequencer (and I do) you'll probably like this one more. It's a return to the early days of synth music, when composers and musicians were just figuring out what to do with them, and just what they could do.

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Like that wonka full-meal gum, except for music

Cords Wires
Bogus Blimp
Manufacturer: Jester Norway
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005A47U
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Tracks:

Hello World
Brothers of Space
No Cords
No Wires
Marching to Rome
By Five O'Clock Tea
King Inst. King
End of the World
Und the Sea
Oxygen 20
Making Room for God
Flight to the Future
Thing to Come

Customer Reviews:

Like that wonka full-meal gum, except for music.......2005-08-11

This is a CD guaranteed to go somewhere you normally don't go in music. And that's a good thing.

BOGUS BLIMP is a group from Norway, a self-exaggerated Spectacular Rock Orchestra, on Garm who-the-hell-ever's Jester Records. Anyone familiar with this label will understand the implications, but for the unenlightened, they seamlessly blend synths and electronic sounds with quirky, self-made samples and atypical vocals, plus a plethora of other sounds and instruments. This album, though there is an unusually wide variety of songs, is incredibly cohesive and forms its own concept album by varying not just the chords and vocals and whatnot to open chapters to new parts of the story, but rather venturing into a new sound entirely during some parts of the album. And no matter what sounds they recall or build on, they do it well. I have seen comparisons to the Residents; they are probably the closest match, but BB is less experimental, a tad more listenable, not to mention much more satirical.

My favorite thing about this band is that they understand that, when one writes a concept album (I'm pretty sure it is), one must not just take one musical sound and inject the story into the lyrics; rather, one must take the story and inject the music into each part of it. Every song isindicative of its own mood, and regardless of the shifts in sound, it flows, just like a good story. Plus, the emotion is as sincere as it gets, and not necessarily stylized into the lyrics. The vocalist isn't constrained by singing cleanly (which he never really does), and manages during each song (or part of a song) he fits the music (esp. "End of the World", where he coughs, sniffles, grates, and howls over a dissonant guitar chord and forboding industrial sounds).

I've written enough, and you get the idea that I love this album, so I'll wrap it up. I hope everyone sees that this album is truly brilliant and beautiful and buys it immediately.

P.S. Look for the website for this album, there's a longer version there of a song called "Marching to Rome", wherein hijinx ensue.

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An Adventure in Music
CD is not compatible with my player

Silk Road Journeys: When Strangers Meet

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2002-04-30

Tracks:

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Customer Reviews:

An Adventure in Music.......2002-10-31

Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Project is a noble and ambitious attempt to bring together "traditional" musicians of Asia with Western musicians. For the most part, they play new music that combines Western instruments with instruments (and tonalities) of China, India, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, and other countries along the Silk Road.

Normally, I avoid new music, because much of it is self-indulgent stuff. But the Silk Road Ensemble and its music are quite the opposite: lively, fascinating, musical in the best sense of the word.

My wife and I have had the privilege of seeing the Silk Road Ensemble perform twice, in March and October of 2002, and they are fabulous. But if you cannot make the concert, this disk is the next best thing. Highly recommended!

CD is not compatible with my player.......2002-06-18

In the excitement of finding this CD, I did not notice that it requires a special player. Upon receiving it and unpacking it I saw the "super audio player only" sticker, and thought that my player would be sofisticated enough to be able to handle it. But, NO. I have spoken with friends and professionals and everyone was surprised to hear of my predicament. I would very much like to return this CD for the same title that will play on my player. Since I could not find a customer service site to air my disappointment, I chose this.

Average customer rating:

Always a pleasure...
At his best...
!!!!!!!!!!!!!WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Complex, engaging rhythms and melodies
..blast from the past

Cords
Synergy
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00000612M
Release Date: 1998-03-31

Tracks:

On Presuming To Be ModernI/Phobos And Deimos Go To Mars
Phobos
Deimons
Sketches Of Mythical Beasts
Disruption in World Communications
On Presuming To Be Modern II
A Small Collection Of Cords
Full Moon Flyer
Terra Incognita
Trellis
On Presuming To Be Modern III

Amazon.com

There's a lot to listen to on Cords, enough to keep it from being background music. Larry Fast, recording under the project name Synergy, must be credited for helping make electronic music accessible to a wider audience; Cords, originally released in 1978, is both an enjoyable and thought-provoking listen. Some pieces, such as "Phobos and Deimos Go to Mars" (which sounds rather like a Rush song) and "Full Moon Flyer," are primarily tonal, while other pieces, notably the three-part "On Presuming to Be Modern," have a more sophisticated structure. Either way, Synergy's music is different enough to surprise, accessible enough to be highly listenable. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

Always a pleasure..........2004-02-01

...to return to this music, some of the best synth music ever put to vinyl (and lets face it, the old LP original has more oomph than the CD version).

Don't know about others' denigration of current day techno or electronica. Have they had the good fortune to listen to Oval's '94 Diskont', Zen Paradox's 'Eternal Brainwave' (my fave overall), Om's 'Instant Enlightenment' or the Autechre ouevre?

This is a landmark and a masterpiece though, because it's so engaging. How many times have you played this once and then put it on again straight away? I have many times.

'Disruption in World Comunications' is the track that transports me to oher universes, but the whole album has an organic flow that transcends the electronic. Larry Fast rules, OK!

I had the luck to hear this on vinyl in a 'playoff' between two friend's awesome audio systems. The album won hands down over the hardware!!!

At his best..........2003-10-25

This album is Larry Fast at his best. I've read many reviews that state this as him going over board or they liked that Sequencer album the best and this doesn't compare or blah blah whatever....This however is the moodiest an most 'approaching ambient' of his collection. The album is a classic synth journey. If you 1. Like Larry Fast and 2. Like synth pioneers, you should pick this up. It's just sounds awesome. There's something about his style that feels very warm and organic electronic (if that makes sense). I find this evoking daydreams of my childhood view of computers when I hear this and his other albums. I'm sure that's what he's aiming for and
it's very affective. I was turned onto this album in the early 90's when all of his albums weren't even on CD yet. I went to the local record store and found this and Audion. I find myself revisiting this when I'm feeling those hightech electronic blues. Just get the album!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2002-01-03

As of today, 1-2-02, all the sound clips except for track 7, 10 and 11 are from the AUDION album, not Cords. In my opinion, both albums are incredible and you can't go wrong with either. Heck, buy them both! : )

Just wanted to let everyone know that most of these sound clips are not from Cords.

Complex, engaging rhythms and melodies.......2000-11-17

My introduction to Synergy was through this album. I am still enthralled by the creativity and the energy of Larry Fast's music. "Phobos and Deimos Go To Mars" is still one of my all-time favorite pieces of music.

Larry Fast weaves a tapestry of multicultural, diverse patterns and rhythms in this album. In addition to the rock influence of the 60's and 70's inherent in most music of that time period, as well as the grand "Classical Rock" influence of Yes, Genesis, Peter Gabriel and other of the genre, Larry Fast includes a strong Middle Eastern/Turkish flavor into some of the tracks.

If you'd like to hear "classical" techno/synthesizer music, this album is a must-listen.

..blast from the past.......2000-01-10

..I remember when the album was released..it was pressed in clear vinyl..and was a hit w/ us "cool" music majors...can't wait to get the CD to re-live those days...one of the piano professors in the music dept could not get enough of this album...

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Taurus No Bull
Cords
Manufacturer: Tvt
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000E8N7
Release Date: 1993-06-15

Tracks:

Angellust
Mirror
My Dearest Friend
Eat Your Heart Out
Gasping
Second Skin
Taurus (Star)
Dreamsong
Dolphins and Whales
Plastic Sister
Different

Average customer rating:

Gasping
Cords
Manufacturer: Tvt
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000008N11
Release Date: 1994-06-21

Tracks:

Gasping
American Woman
Storm
Circle
Snowblind
Bikini Pain

Isang Yun: Chamber Symphony 1; Tapis pour cords; Gong-Hu

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Isang Yun: Chamber Symphony 1; Tapis pour cords; Gong-Hu

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2006-02-21

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Chamber Symphony I
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Ceiling of Heaven: Composer's Forum of East/Var

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Ceiling of Heaven: Composer's Forum of East/Var

Manufacturer: Albany Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0009Y26EK
Release Date: 2005-07-01

Tracks:

Horn Quintet "La Barca"
Sleepless Night
Wind Quintet No. 2
The Ceiling of Heaven

Product Description

The Chamber Music Conference and ComposersÂ’ Forum has reached the venerable age of 60, and it is very appropriate indeed that the Conference celebrates, at least in part, with a new recording of music played by members of its outstanding and musically vibrant faculty. Every summer for these past six decades, the Conference itself has been a celebration of the love of music making, involving Conference faculty and participants from around the world in a heady fusion of musical activities: public concerts, including frequent world premieres, professionally-coached rehearsals and intensive study sessions, lectures and seminars addressing a wide range of topics. From the beginning in 1945, participation by composers has been an integral feature of the Conference. Among the founders were composers Otto Luening and Richard Donovan. Among the many distinguished composers who have been in residence over the years are Henry Brant, Elliott Carter, Stephen Hartke, Jennifer! Higdon, Libby Larsen and Steven Stucky. The recording presents a small but highly representative sample of what the Conference is all about. Vermont composer and Bennington College faculty member Allen Shawn (brother, incidentally, of playwright/actor William Shawn) has been a Resident Composer and frequent guest at the Conference. His string quartet Sleepless Night and the Wind Quintet (a commission by long-time participants) are fine examples of his lyrical style. Donald Crockett, from Los Angeles, was in residence at the Conference in 1999, and since 2002 has been the ConferenceÂ’s Senior Composer-in-Residence. The Ceiling of Heaven was commissioned by the Conference. Fans of contemporary American chamber music will recognize many of the performers from their recordings (cellist Maxine Neuman, a member of the Bennington staff, is a specialist in this material) and will greatly enjoy this significant release.

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