Ss* * THE MICHIGAN bAILY
Ss EinE """'i'"wThursday, March 25, 1976 Page Five
Berlin Quartet gives
cool performance
the gallery
eYou are cordially invited
to a showing of hand-.crafted
pottery and weaving by a
selected group of area artists.
Reception Friday 26th 4-7 p.m.
Refreshments
RICHARD JAMES
F THIS YEAR'S Chamrbtr
Arts Series has taught Annj
Arbor audiences a lesson, it
ale - like adagio movement and was almost too 'wirey for the
a hair-raising scherO, finish- piece, I felt that the work, as
ing in one of Beethoven's typic- a whole, benefitted from their
ally clever and joyous sets of approach. they played it more
variations. like a piece of chamber
Da vid
Iotvie
New Bowie album
retains artistry
By MICHAEL BAADKE in any way. The song's haunt-
ing introduction carries into a
IT IS no longer possible to sedate Bowie falsetto, which
neatly place David Bowie quickly changes as he puts his
into a musical category. Bowie voice through an impressive
has run through a gamut of variety of vocal calisthenics.
musical styles, from space-rock- According to the album cred-
er to glitter-king, most recently its, Bowie does not play guitar
emerging as a neophyte soul or piano on the LP, leaving the
song stylist. responsibilities to his capable
On Station To Station (RCA sidemen. Carlos Alomar does
APL1-1327), Bowie has synthe- particularly well; his guitar
sized many characteristics work domintes much of the LP.
from his previous musical ef- Roy Bittan, who replaces Mich-
forts and emerged with a sound ael Garson on piano, performs
that is both unique and capti- with sensitivity and strength.
vating. His keyboard work is well-tem-
BOWIE has retained the soul pered, and effectively accom-
affectationshefirst adoptedon panies Bowie through the mov-
affctaion hefirt aoptd ng "Word On A Wing."
his previous LP, Young Amer!- g
cans. The new songs have few- ONE serious shortcoming this
er background vocals, however, album suffers is that Bowie's
and the powerful rhythms which vo als are often difficult to un-
prevailed throughout Y o u n g; derstand. This is due primarily
Americans have been toned to his rather singular style of
down slightly on Station To Sta- singing; his tearing vocals or
tion. soaring falsettos often sacrifice
One exception is the song clarity for style. The major sin
i'Golden Years" which has been' the LP commits is not supply-
released as a single from the ing the listener with a lyric
new LP. Bowie's strength as a sheet. As a result, it is virtual-
producer is especially striking ly impossible to figure out what
on this tune, as he sparks new the song "TVC 15' is all about,
life into cliched guitar riffs and and much of the title cut soars
background wailings. Syncopat- by anonymously.
ed hand-clappings and finger- There is a moodiness in
snappings, coupled with a per- Bowie's music which contrib-
fect Frank Sinatra-whistling-in- utes to his new sound. Many of
the-dark conclusion all combine the songs on Station To Sta-
to make the song a seeming tion feature Bowie singing in
contradiction in musical terms. the lower ranges, countered by
Surprisingly, this overdone in-. a trickling pianoaccompanir
congruity succeeds somehow, nment which provides an inter-
and "Golden Years" is bound esting balance.
to become a Bowie classic. Bowie's main instrument is
would be the fact that first music, giving one less of a feel-
class music performances can THE performance heard Mon- ing that the work was really
result from a variety of ap. 'day evening was polite and cool. striving to become a lush ro-
proaches. Styles seen on this The musicians were sensitive mantic orchestral work, a fre-
year's calendar have ranged and intent but not always as in- quent problem in romantic
from the flashy Tokyo String tense as some might have pre- chamber music. Their perform-
Quartet to the suave Beaux ferred. Their precision and stu- ance seemed fulfilled, not frus-
Arts Trio and, this past Monday died interpretations, however, trated. The novel thematic ex-
evening, to the Berlin String cannot be faulted. First violinist position and development in the
Quartet which might best be Karl Suske cut perhaps the mtenuetto and the dancing final
characterized as a no-nonsense, most curious figure on stage. allegro were particularly
ensemble. U n 1i k e most ensemble charming.
This attitude could be seen leaders, he was, if anything, a As if to turn the tables on
from the outset in their pro- bit more retiring than his fellow standard program order, the
gramming. The traditional, light performers. His tone was also Berlin String Quartet finally
and classical opening was noticeably different from the played a classical chamber
waved in favor of leading off typically warm and aggressive work, Mozart's Adagio canta-
with the powerful complexity of first violinist's sound. While bile, but as an encore. Their
Beethoven, in this case his this helped to avoid the some- restrained approach seemed
Quartet in E-Fat major, Op. times distastefully outspoken highly appropriate to the work
74. (the "Harp"). While not stereotype of his position; it also and. gave the evening an exquis-
Beethoven's most profound tended to run somewhat cone ite conclusion.
chaniber work, the "Harp" trary to the style of the other
quartet, like so much of Beet- players, especially that of the A DAZZLING HALL
hoven, is quite intricate: taking cellist, Matthias Pfaender, NEW YORK ( - The Amen.
place, it would seem, on several who displayed a rich, almost fat can Museum of Natural History
different but thoroughly inter- Itone~. Suske seemetd rather de-..anMsumo atrlHitr
Cache at tmes.plans to open its new Hall of
woven levels. The first move- Minerals and Gems May 21.
ment is fiercely contrapuntal! In keeping with their Ger-
and taxes an ensemble's preci- man style of playing and pro- It says nine world-famous dia-
sion and unity to the utmost. gramming, the Berlin String , monds, totaling nearly 1,000 car-
Quartet selected Schubert's ats in weight, will be on display
On another, correlary level, Quartet in A minor, Op. 29 for at the opening.
the composer works magic with the second half of the concert.
his themes, using them not only It was here that their somewhat
as melodic ideas but rhythmic reserved style of playing be-
ones, adding sparkle and depth came more obvious. Have vdfrp
to every measure. The work cm or brostav istic wifu's
continues with a beautiful chor- ALTHOUGH Suske's playing oufire jtret-
__________ed to reviewi~
' ______- -.___-poetry. t)4 a uste
* OT r ittng feature
storita * u t nt
:Join Arts Page sttaff
E d t t or. Pe/o Tht
IF YOU have a flair for writing about the arts or a particular Michigan Daly.
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toU R .CiNEN
.U
UAC Concert Co-op Presents
i
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(
BORDERS BOOK SHOP
303 S. State Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48108
MARIA MULDAUR
AND
JESSE COLIN YOUNG
SAT., April 3rd Mich. Union Box O
Monday-Friday 11 -5
HILL AUD. 8 p.m. 763-2071
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Jeff Sorensen.
U-M Gilbert and Sullivan Society
IS TAKING APPICATIONS FOR
Directors of the Fell Show
(SPI RITS)
WITH OUR
ITAiiIAN
DINNERS.
WITH OUR
PIZZA AND
SANDWICHES
- WITH YOUR
JFAVORITE
LI UEU R.
tage
INN
51'2 BASY WILIAMS
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IJoin lThe
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ENJOY THE
WEST
EAST
IN A QUIE
LUNCH DIN
Smokina and beveraaes strictly prohibited in oud.
J
i
F INEST CHINESE FOOD
f OF NEW YORK AND
OF SAN FRANCISCO
ET ELEGANT SETTING
NNER * SNACKS COCKTAILS
° mhgll~wialu~j
Ii~
I#
ullii Iiu
pltl hlllllli
gllllh iiii ii '
uumu
ffice
5:30,
1
.
1
7 jji
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-
STAGE DIRECTOR
TECH. DIRECTOR
MUSIC DIRECTOlk
COSTUME DESIGNER
THERE are only six songs on
the album, and as a result,I
most of the songs run an aver-,
age of about six minutes, dan-
gerously long for an artist seek-,
ing commercial airplay. "Gold-'
en Years" is the shortest cut
on Station To Station, at four
minutes, and the longest is the
title cut, which extends over
ten minutes in length.
Bowie's versatility in compo-
sition saves the tune "Station
to Station" from being tedious
his voice, and he uses it as
more than just a medium for
his lyrics. He ranges from a
snarl to a whimper, and just
about everything in between.
WORD IS circulating once;
again that Bowie is contemplat-
ing retirement from the music
scene, this time to devote his
time to making movies. It must
simply be restlessness which
sparks his retirement thoughts,
for with albums like Station To
Station Bowie is guaranteed
success for some time to come.
Call David Shough, 769-1868 by Apr. 1
UNIVERSITY SHOWCASE PRODUCTIONS
presents
EURJPIV65'
THeTQJ
IN RECOeNITION OFCSN1\J WATIQAL WOMN 01,
MARCH 24-27
TRUE5LOOD TH EATRE.-NO
TCKETS A.VA.,AELE AT P.TP. OrFIcE -74-0450
N MENDEL.S5OHMN L.01Y, M- F 10 AM F2-LPM.
the ann rbor film cooperative
-TONIGHT-
BLAZING SADDLES is cancelled
The distributor has pulled the film in order to re-release
it theatrically.
INSTEAD:
SURPRISE COMEDY SPECIAL
in Aud. A, Angell Hall
at 7 & 9:30 p.m.
$1.25
the ann arbor film co-op is taking applications for new
members. Innuire at the ticket desk.
1N S
4,
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UA
w
D
and
C/eclipse jazz
PREUNTS
EATHER
EPORT
N CONCERT
ith SPECIAL GUMSSTAR
AVE LIEPMAN
LOOKOUT FARM
i