Douglas Hein: Orlando, He Dead (1985)

Douglas Hein: Orlando, He Dead (1985)

Orlando, Orlando, he dead, he dead, Orlando, he dead.

Josquin, Johann, Amadeus, Ludwig, they dead, they dead, all them guys they dead.

Buddy H., Brian J., Mama C. Karen C., they dead, they dead, all them guys, the dead.

La, la, la …

And when your dead your dead forever,

forever, forever, forever

You don’t go live no more,

no more, no more, no more.

You be dead more long than live

‘Cuz when your dead your dead forever,

Forever, forever, forever.

Some day me be dead,

Some day you be dead,

Some day me be dead,

Some day you be dead,

All us guys

We dead

La, la, la ….

performed by the Cartesian Reunion Memorial Orchestra

this groundbreaking group featured compositions by Michael Bayer, Chuck Estes, Douglas Hein, William Houston, Steve Moshier, Frank Riddick, and Lloyd Rodgers. at various times, the orchestra featured musicians Jannine Livingston, harpsichord; John Glenn, bass; Lloyd Rodgers, clarinet and keyboard; Douglas Hein, acoustic guitar; Diana Halpern, violin; Joeseph Goodman, violin; and Michael Baer, violincello

DJ Wolf at renewable music (June 2005)

“Sometimes the internet is a wonderful place. Composer Paul Bailey has just put up an mp3 of Doug Hein’s Orlando he dead, one of my favorite pieces from the repertoire of the legendary Cartesian Memorial Reunion Orchestra (a semi-situationist, semi-electric chamber ensemble in the grand style of LA in the 80’s). Hein’s piece is one of the few vocal works in the Cartesian ’s repertoire, with the only lyric I know of that meaningfully includes both Orlando di Lasso and Mama Cass. It’s also one of the very few genuinely funny works of recent modern music. But more importantly, it’s an example of exquisite counterpoint and near-counterpoint and fake renaissancery.”

text and music by Douglas M. Hein

curated by Paul Bailey

May 03, 2010 | Categories: Desert Island Tracks, Latest Tracks | Tags: amadeus, bach, beethoven, brian jones, broken consort, buddy holly, Cartesian Memorial Reunion Orchestra, Chamber music, death, josquin, mama cass, orlando di lasso, post-minimalist, situationist, vocal | Leave A Comment »