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Edgard Varese

Edgard Victor Achille Charles Varèse (also spelled Edgar Varèse; December 22, 1883 – November 6, 1965) was an French-born composer who spent the greater part of his career in the United States.

Varèse's music emphasizes timbre and rhythm and he coined the term "organized sound" in reference to his own musical aesthetic. Varèse's conception of music as reflected his vision of "sound as living matter" and of "musical space as open rather than bounded". He conceived the elements of his music in terms of "sound-masses", likening their organization to the natural phenomenon of crystalization. Varèse thought that "to stubbornly conditioned ears, anything new in music has always been called noise", and he posed the question, "what is music but organized noises?".

Although his complete surviving works only last about three hours, he has been recognised as an influence by several major composers of the late 20th century. Varèse saw potential in using electronic mediums for sound production, and his use of new instruments and electronic resources led to his being known as the "Father of Electronic Music" while Henry Miller described him as "The stratospheric Colossus of Sound".

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Recent Varese releases

Robert Craft: The Complete Columbia Album Collection
Robert Craft: The Complete Columbia Album Collection

£180.45

(Sony)

Karl-Heinz Schutz: Syrinx
Karl-Heinz Schutz: Syrinx

£16.63

(Evidence Classics)

Tchaikovsky - Romeo and Juliet; Stravinsky - The Firebird; Varese - Ameriques
Tchaikovsky - Romeo and Juliet; Stravinsky - The Firebird; Varese - Ameriques

£13.25

(BR Klassik)

Liselotte Rokyta: Syrinx
Liselotte Rokyta: Syrinx

£15.68

(Supraphon)