Karlheinz Stockhausen – Stockhausen Edition 5: Gruppen/Carré (1992)

Gruppen?
Most probably, this is the very piece which made Sir Thomas Beecham say, “A Stockhausen composition? No, I’ve never heard any, but I must have throdden in some”.
It is the piece which made less daring exponents of contemporary 20th century music want to expel Karlheinz from the pantheon of classical composers, this only resulting in him being granted refuge in another sanctuary – modern rock stardom…behold! The German’s portrait emerged on the cover of this milestone in music history, an album which may not have been half as original without his far-reaching influence. I’m talking about Sgt. Pepper’s, of course. It is not difficult to see why the Beatles and many other young hippies admired Stockhausen; after all, he had no peers when it came to tearing down bourgeois conventions in the most radical way imaginable.

Gruppen and Carré probably require more than one set of speakers in order to be enjoyed to the full. Gruppen was composed for three orchestral groups; Carré for four orchestral & vocal groups.

Note: again a warning in EAC’s log which seems to be unnecessary. The “suspicious position” sounds perfect to me. Perhaps older cd technology had difficulties to manage peak levels produced by several orchestral groups together? I don’t know. My ears cannot detect any flaws.

tracklist:

01-48. Gruppen - 24.25

49-87. Carre - 30.50

Performers Gruppen:
WDR Orchestra: group I conducted by Karlheinz Stockhausen, group II by Bruno Maderna and group III by Michael Gielen
Date: May 9, 1965

Performers Carré:
Choir and Symphony Orchestra of the NDR: Choir/Orchestra I led by Mauricio Kagel, II by Karlheinz Stockhausen, III by Andrzej Markowski, IV by Michael Gielen
Date: October 28, 1960