Henry, Pierre

Band members               Related acts

- Pierre Henry - 

 

 

 

- none known

 

 

 

 

Genre: progressive

Rating: ** ( 2 stars)

Title:  Variations for a Door and a Sigh

Company: Limelight

Catalog: LS 86059

Year: 1963

Country/State: France

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: gatefold sleeve; small cut out hole; note our copy does not have the white sticker shown on the above photo

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4409

Price: $50.00

Cost: $66.00

 

 I own plenty of weird music, but this effort by famed French modernist Pierre Henry may be one of the most bizarre of them all.  Originally released in 1963 by Philips under its French title "Variations pour und Porte et un Soupir", in 1969 the ABC affiliated Limelight label decided to reissue the album in the States. (The decision to reissue it may have been inspired by Henry's recent collaboration with the band Spooky Tooth on the album "Ceremony".)  Written and produced by Henry, "Variations for a Door and a Sigh" featured 25 tracks culminating almost an hour's worth of 'songs' (I'm using the term loosely) that were composed entirely from the sound of breathing, a musical saw and a squeaky door Henry apparently found in a 17th century French chateau ...  Augmented by some tape manipulations, for no other reason than the concept is so bizarre the set's worth a laugh or two.  There are even a couple of short segments that reflect a semblance of melody, though it's doubtful most folks will ever have something like 'Hesitation' or 'Stretching' playing in their heads.  One of the things that I found fascinating about this set was the fact that its acquired a large cut following.  If you look it up on the web you'll find dozens of reviews and even more discussions wherein people claim it as a major influence on their own work.

"Variations for a Door and a Sigh" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Slumber (Sommeil)   (instrumental) - 2:52

2.) Hesitation (Balacement)   (instrumental) -1 :12

3.) Song 1 (Chant 1)   (instrumental) - 0:27

4.) Awakening (Eveil)   (instrumental) - 1:23

5.) Song 2 (Chant 2)   (instrumental) - 1:33

6.) Stretching (Etirement)   (instrumental) - 0:58

7.) Gestures (Gestes)   (instrumental) - 1:37

8.) Reckoning (Comptine)   (instrumental) - 1:32

9.) Fever 1 (Fievre 1)   (instrumental) - 2:18

10.) Yawning (Baillement)   (instrumental) -1:46

11.) Song 3 (Chant 33)   (instrumental) - 1:44

12.) Wrath (Colere)   (instrumental) - 1:44

13.) Hesitation 2 (Balancement 2)   (instrumental) - 1:32

14.) Breathing (Respirations)   (instrumental) - 1:57

 

(side 2)

1.) Fevere 2 (Fievre 2)   (instrumental) - 2:28

2.) Gymnastics (Gymnastique)    (instrumental)- 2:12

3.) Song 4 (Chant 4)   (instrumental) - 0:35

4.) Wailing (Brailements)   (instrumental) - 1:30

5.) Waves (Vagues)    (instrumental)- 1:36

6.) Song 5 (Chant 5)   (instrumental) - 1:22

7.) Trance (Transe)   (instrumental) - 2:00

8.) Death-Rattle (Rales)   (instrumental) - 2:15

9.) Snoring (Ronflement)   (instrumental) - 2:37

10.) Song 6 (Chant 6)    (instrumental)- 0:56

11.) Death (Mort)   (instrumental) - 5:15

 

 

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