Program 597: The Music of Fred Frith

KALW Broadcast Date: April 24, 2020 | Host: Mark Abramson

Fred Frith started his professional career in the late sixties, with the experimental rock group Henry Cow (which you may be disappointed to learn, was NOT named after the American composer Henry Cowell). After Henry Cow, Frith went on to collaborate with a who’s who of experimental musicians—including Robert Wyatt, Brian Eno and the Residents among many others.

Frith is well known as an improviser, but he’s also composed numerous works for small ensembles, dance, film and theater. This program is a short survey of Frith’s life and work.

Step Across The Border (film)

Program Audio

30-Second Spot

Track Info & Links

Title: Ruins (1974)
Composer: Fred Frith
Performers: Henry Cow
Recording Title: Unrest (1974)
Record Label: RER Megacorp
Catalog Number: ReRHC2

Title: String Quartet No. 1 “Lelekovice” (1991)
Composers: Fred Frith
Performers: Arditti Quartet
Recording Title: Eleventh Hour (2005)
Record Label: Winter & Winter
Catalog Number: 910 103-2

Title: Rifka (1996)
Composer: Fred Frith
Performers: Fred Frith, Tom Cora, George Cartwright, Joey Baron
Recording Title: Allies (1996)
Record Label: RecRec Music
Catalog Number: ReCDec 70

Title: Part VIII (2003)
Composer: Fred Frith
Performers: Fred Frith, Karoline Höfler, Bernd Settelmeyer, Wolfgang Stryi
Recording Title: Rivers and Tides (2003)
Record Label: Winter & Winter
Catalog Number: 910 092-2