Moondog - Viking of Sixth Avenue
(Click here)
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: MoondogEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2008-07-08
Music Label: Honest Jon's
Soundtracks:
- Theme and Variations
- Down Is Up
- Bumbo
- Big Cat
- Oo Debut
- Lament 1 'Bird's Lament'
- Moondog's Symphony 1 (Timberwolf)
- Moondog's Symphony 2 (Sagebrush)
- Rabbit Hop
- Rimshot
- Snaketime Rhythm
- Instrumental Round
- Double Bass Duo
- Why Spend the Dark Night with You
- All Is Loneliness
- Snaketime Rhythm
- Dragon's Teeth
- Oboe Round
- Be a Hobo
- Dog Trot
- Oasis
- Avenue of the Americas
- 2 W 46th Street
- Lullaby (2 W 46th Street)
- Fog on the Hudson (425 W 57th Street)
- Utsu
- On and off the Beat
- Chant
- From One to Nine
- Improvisation in 4/4
- Enough About Human Rights!
- Viking 1
- Rimshot
- Chaconne in G Major
- Oasis
- Invocation
Music reviews of Viking of Sixth Avenue
Music Review: A Good Place to Start
Rating: 5 Stars
This is a very good place to start with Moondog's music. I disagree entirely with the previous reviewer as to the quality of the performances. Here, "Bird's Lament" is more dynamic, faster paced and, as with most of this cd, a lot of fun. If you can't find anything to like on this disc (for instance, "Theme and Variation" or "Chaconne in G" or the lovely "Fog on the Hudson"), it may just be that the man's music is not for you.
The work here consists mostly of miniatures from a musician who began life as a percussionist and it shows: his sense of rhythm is fantastic. I've heard it said that Moondog's work prefigures the minimalism of Terry Riley or Steve Reich, but it's less formally rigorous and much more playful: a sudden burst of melody, great counterpoint (his debt to Bach is even more obvious on some of the other discs available), eccentric use of voice, and even traditional songs.
The music is odd and familiar at the same time. It deserves to be more widely known.
Description of Viking of Sixth Avenue
Previously licensed to Astralwerks in the U.S., now re-released on its original label, Honest Jon's, with new and improved gatefold card wallet sleeve packaging. Poet, composer, street musician and cosmologist Moondog (Louis Thomas Hardin, 1916-1999) learned rhythm from American Indians and counterpoint from J.S. Bach. Many of his recordings feature instruments he built himself: trimba, yukh, tuji, oo. Sometimes you can hear in the background the streets of New York, where Moondog often slept. In addition, he was blind, due to an accident when he was 15. Sometime in the 1950s, fed up with being mistaken on the street for Christ (his regular busking spot was uptown on Sixth) Moondog put on a Viking costume, with spear and horned helmet; and he dressed like this until the late 1970s (by which time he was working with orchestras in Germany). Moondog's renown was extensive: Igor Stravinsky lobbied a judge on Moondog's behalf. Charlie Parker wanted to play with him, Julie Andrews DID play with him, and he was feted by the likes of Bob Dylan, Marlon Brando, and Steve Reich. Andy Warhol's mother designed one of his covers, and Weegee took photographs of him (included in the booklet). Janis Joplin covered him, Mr. Scruff owes him badly, and Antony and the Johnsons covers his songs. This is the first retrospective of Moondog's music -- 36 tracks from 1949-1995, most of them exceptionally rare, all of them miraculous.General Modern CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in General Modern CDs
Robert Shaw Chorale - A Festival Of Carols / Robert Shaw ChoraleRCA; Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $4.81
Price in other shops:
We Three KingsRelease date: 2003-10-21; Music CD
Best price: $5.56
Price in other shops:
The Essential Yo-Yo MaSony; Release date: 2005-08-16; Music CD
Best price: $9.29
Price in other shops:
Music of ChristmasSony; Release date: 1990-10-25; Music CD
Best price: $4.95
Price in other shops:
Menotti - Amahl and the Night VisitorsRelease date: 2007-10-09; DVD
Best price: $17.62
Price in other shops:
Robert Shaw, Robert Shaw Chamber Singers - Songs of Angels - Christmas Hymns and CarolsShaw; Release date: 1994-10-18; Music CD
Best price: $5.59
Price in other shops:
The Time-Life Treasury of ChristmasRelease date: 2001-09-11; Music CD
Best price: $12.88
Price in other shops:
Egberto Gismonti - SaudacoesRelease date: 2009-10-20; Music CD
Best price: $19.67
Price in other shops:
Yo-Yo Ma - Songs of Joy & PeaceSony; Release date: 2008-10-14; Music CD
Best price: $8.46
Price in other shops:
Andrea Bocelli - The Best of Andrea Bocelli: VivereAndrea; Release date: 2007-10-30; Music CD
Best price: $8.69
Price in other shops:
Similar CDs
Grizzly Bear - VeckatimestDig; Release date: 2009-05-26; Music CD
Best price: $7.72
Price in other shops:
Bob Dylan - Christmas In the HeartRelease date: 2009-10-13; Music CD
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops:
Bob Dylan - Together Through Life (Deluxe Edition)Columbia; Release date: 2009-04-28; Music CD
Best price: $12.00
Price in other shops:
Sax Pax for a SaxRelease date: 1997-11-18; Music CD
Best price: $29.99
Moondog - Rare MaterialRelease date: 2006-07-03; Music CD
Best price: $25.04
Price in other shops:
Moondog, The Viking of 6th Avenue: The Authorized Biographyby Robert Scotto
PROCESS; Published: 2007-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.96
Price in other shops:
The German Years 1977-1999Release date: 2004-08-23; Music CD
Best price: $27.01
Price in other shops:
Moondog - More Moondog/ The Story of MoondogRelease date: 1991-07-01; Music CD
Best price: $6.79
Price in other shops:
Moondog - Moondog 1 & 2Release date: 2000-11-06; Music CD
Best price: $11.82
Price in other shops:
MoondogRelease date: 1991-07-01; Music CD
Best price: $5.63
Price in other shops: