| Inducted into the Downbeat Magazine Hall of Fame in August 2005!
2-disc 24-bit remastered set!
The Way is a long story. Based on an old Chinese text, attributed to Lao-Tzu, it reached me 2000 years later,
in New York, in Witter Bynner’s sing-song version: The Tao Teh Ching (published by Capricorn Books).
That was 1959. By ’67 I had already set the melody of ”The Way” for Irène and was mulling over the other verses.
The rest of the pieces were written in the late sixties. By the early seventies began the elaboration and realization
of this music, known as Tao, which is still going on.
By now, after hundreds of performances of this cycle (in solo, duo, quintet, orchestra, with dancers, electronics, etc.),
the shape and sound is coming clear and the whole work seems destined to become ”standard” one day.
New wings for old words – so be it.
Tao dedicated to:
Existence–John Coltrane–Dawn
The Way–Alberto Giacometti–Morning
Bone–Lester Young –Noon
Name–Charlie Parker–Afternoon
The Breath–Gil Evans–Evening
Life on Its Way –Duke Ellington–Night
Made in concert in Basel, Switzerland, January 23rd, 1979.
This is the first complete recorded performance of Tao. Already, one year later, some parts have been modified,
re-worked, developed. This music is complete, but, luckily for me, unfinished.
|