The year was 1993 and I was still exploring Classical music. It was the Grateful Dead's Almanac that changed my life on what to listen to. I always go back to the Almanac because every quarterly issue would have what the band is listing to or suggested listen. They would always point out some old Folk, Blues, and Country. The once and a while moment they would get into Jazz or Classical and it's how I found out about Ornette Coleman, Fusion Jazz, World Music would be the odd picks, and one Charles Ives popped out of the page. This is the fault of Phil Lesh, by the way. I will post a small tribute to him soon.
Charles Ives is not your typical Classical composter. While the famous ones supported themselves by composing music Charles Ives was a person who worked in the insurance industry. It was where he lived in a small area of Conneticut near Danbury. I'm sure that this area had a huge influence on his writing. His "Three Places in New England" or "Concord Sonata" or even "Central Park in the Dark" are very regional and New England influences. There is so much music that I did not mention that makes Ives even more New England-ly.
It was when I read that article in the Almanac that recommended
Symphony #3 and his piece "
Unanswered Question" that I needed to pay attention. Working at the local library had its advantages. It was that is where I found a copy of
Symphony #3 and was in shock. I was actually surprised that we had a copy, It was not the only Charles Ives in the collection, but for me it was what I was searching for as a start to listen to his music.
At first listen I did not know what this was. I only had the common symphonies as a point of reference and this one threw all those ideas away. I could not hum along like
Beethoven's 5th or
Mozart's 41st. It's sweeping sounds make it so emotional that after my hiatus from college and going back to school my college Professor started to weep with the end of Ives
Symphony #3. More on that a bit later. It truly was a world wind of emotions. It was short and I listened to it again. Still not sure what it was, but loved it. Thanks to the Grateful Dead.
It was later on when I decided to tackle is piece "
Unanswered Question." I did not know classical music was supposed to be like that. It was full of space, but each instrument in it's composition knew what to do. It was not a whole orchestra, but it was a small ensemble. If you need more information, the Wiki page is pretty good on breaking it down. My description is the same as it says on Wiki, "A Cosmic Landscape." It also mentions that Ives was half a century ahead of his time. I can surly agree with those statements.
Going back to my return to college is where someone also felt the same way I did. The same professor who cried at Symphony #3 asked if there was score of "Unanswered Question." We did have a copy, and walking down with him to check it out at the college library I mentioned how much I loved this piece of music. It was over a glass or two of beer we discussed our love for Ives and Eric Dolphy. Two giants in the music world that changed our ways of what music could and would be. I took a couple of his classes and he taught more about what musicology is all about and the appreciation and passion of music without playing a single instrument. I'm good at all things air, I tell people. Ives will invoke passion and you will never look at Classical the same way.
Above is the best known access to Ives "
Unanswered Question." There is also a Bernstein Ives Symphony Cd too that is great introduction to his larger works. On the CD is also a great discussion on the importance of Ives. The link below is something worth reading or watching on Youtube. So take a dive into a true original in Charles Ives. This might change your life as much as it did for me. Enjoy!
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