“Beethoven’s Fifth Nightmare” ~ aleXander hirka
audio-montage – (early 1970s)
In the early 1970′s, in my little apartment in Chicago, with two cassette players and one reel-to-reel gizmo, I set about composing this piece.
With a need to express myself in sound, and inspired by Revolution #9 by the Beatles and other experimental music that had made its way to my ears – yet handicapped by a lack of ability to play any musical instrument ~ I slowly (it took over a year) put together this audio-montage.
• Due to the endless sharing of music occurring via YouTube, I recently discovered John Cage’s “Rozart Mix” (1965) and was amazed at the similarities to my piece.
• The Beatles mash-up in the second half of my piece predates The Residents somewhat similar ideas in “Beyond the Valley of a Day In The Life” by a few years.
Beethoven’s Fifth Nightmare ~ Part One (7:23)
Beethoven’s Fifth Nightmare ~ Part 2 (7:55)
Chicago, August 1975
(photo by Christa)