EVAPORATIONS by MARDEN POND

Electronic Works for Choreography, Soundtrack, and Art Installation 1976-1996 

Marden Pond’s “Evaporations” (1976-96) is an archival project showcasing the composers experimental music approaches that utilize synthesizers, electronics, and computer. These rare or unreleased tracks and demos were initially purposed for art installation, dance and theater , music exploration, and ambient listening experiences. Marden was artistically right beside his contemporaries of the Land Artist Movement of the Southwest during the 70’s, as he created soundscapes inspired by the vast and bizarre features of Utah. Some of the other work presented on this record was to inspire physical movement by use of unorthodox arrangements and percussive rhythms, juxtaposed with fleeting synth phrases and environmental textures.     

Besides the two tracks included from Marden’s hyper rare 1980 private press LP “Castle Valley Impressions”, this collection of music is being presented on vinyl for the first time.

Compiled by Adam Michael Terry and Chase Estes
Cover Art: “Various water level and shoreline patterns of the Great Salt Lake 1976 - 1996”
Layout, cover design and painting by Chase Estes

LINER NOTES
A1 – Precipitation (Application Composition #3): composed in the Electronic Music Studios of Arizona State University, ca. 1975 on the Arp 2500 modular synthesizer.  The composer used this track in his application materials for his doctoral work at the University of Northern Colorado.

A2 – Gebunge (part 1): commissioned by the Barlow Endowment for Music Composition.  1992 Collaboration with choreographer Shirley Ririe for the Ririe/Woodbury Dance Company.  Instruments included the Kurzweil K-1000, Ensoniq Mirage, and modules from Korg, Peavey, Yamaha, and Roland.  Also included in the album, Footnotes.

A3 – Timeless: from the 1986 cassette album, Kinetic Variations.  Created using the Casio CZ-101.

A4 – Kenbabwe: from the 1996 album, Environments.  Sound sources included the Kurzweil K-1000, Ensoniq Mirage, Yamaha TX 81z, and modules from Korg, Peavey, and Roland.  

A5 – Windchimes: from the 1996 album, Environments.  Featuring sounds from the Kurzweil K-1000 and Ensoniq Mirage.

A6 – Movie Moves (part 1).  Composed for the Ririe/Woodbury Dance Company (ca. 1983) using the Casio CZ-101 with muted trumpet played by the composer.

A7 – Horizons: (background information unavailable).

B1 – Lightgeist: commissioned by the Young DanceMakers in 1991 for the International Year of the Child.  Choreographed by Kathie Debenham and Christine Ollerton.  Instruments included the Kurzweil K-1000, Ensoniq Mirage, and modules from Korg, Peavey, Yamaha, and Roland.  Also included in the album, Footnotes.

B2 – Island In the Sky: created for the 1980 record album, Castle Valley Impressions. Created using the Synthi AKS, Multimoog, and PAIA 4700/S synthesizers.

B3 – Symteria: from the Ririe/Woodbury laser disc production (ca. 1989), Teaching Dance Improvisation, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts Artist in Education program.  Created using the ESQ-1 and Mirage from Ensoniq.

B4 – Drum Machine: (background information unavailable).

B5 – Ball: from the Ririe/Woodbury laser disc production (ca. 1989), Teaching Dance Improvisation, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts Artist in Education program.  Created using the ESQ-1 and Mirage from Ensoniq.

B6 – Evaporation (Synthesizer Composition #5): composed in the Electronic Music Studios of Arizona State University, ca. 1975 on the Arp 2500 modular synthesizer.