Photos 1 à 5 – © James D. Gossage, 1966 – Toutes les images sont prises par James D. Gossage, un grand photographe qui a documenté les années 1960 du New York Theatre.  Les lectures de poésie à la Pier Gansevoort étaient alors organisées par Ed Blair, un poète new-yorkais.

Photos 6 à 9 – © James D. Gossage, 1966 – Moondog aimait travailler avec des écrivains, musiciens et acteurs. Les photos en question le montrent lors d’un gala de la poésie, produit par Dominique Magie au 41st Street Theatre, pendant en duo avec un saxophoniste.

Photos 10 à 12 – © James D. Gossage, 1966 – Les photos et les clips journal en question montrent un concert de Moondog à la Galerie du spectre au 54 West 57th Street, New York, le 20 mai 1966. Les musiciens sont tous issus de l’Orchestre philharmonique de New York.

Visitez le site web de Richard Bellia

Elle ne ressemblait à aucune autre et j’ai été déconcertée par la singularité de son style. J’ai eu envie de me plonger dans l’univers de ce compositeur et je ne l’ai plus quitté.

Des amis musiciens m’ont conseillé de contacter Jean-Jacques Lemêtre afin d’obtenir des partitions. (Jean-Jacques Lemêtre avait été le premier à diriger des œuvres de Moondog en France – Maison de la Radio en 1982).

Les premières œuvres que j’ai travaillées furent “Jazz Book for little hands”, le “Prélude et Fugue en la mineur”, “Elf Dance”, “Santa Fé”, “Carnival”, “Fiesta” et, sans repère de style, déroutée par le caractère de ces pièces, je m’engageais dans une voix nouvelle et une approche très différente du répertoire classique pour piano.

Après une année d’explorations, j’ai décidé de contacter Moondog et de lui envoyer un premier enregistrement. A mon grand étonnement, il a apprécié mes interprétations et m’a immédiatement proposé un premier concert avec lui en Allemagne.

Je garde bien sûr un immense souvenir de ma première rencontre avec Louis, son physique incroyable, sa  grande douceur, sa simplicité, sa gentillesse, et son caractère enjoué. Je me suis tout de suite sentie en confiance. Il avait une manière très concentrée de m’écouter lors de nos répétitions, rien ne lui échappait. Si une pédale ou une nuance ne lui convenait pas, il s’asseyait au piano près de moi pour me montrer ce qu’il souhaitait. Nous jouions et tout se passait dans la bonne humeur. Un jour, il déclara que notre duo s’appellerait « D.M.D. » (Dominique Moondog Duo)

Après les concerts nous commentions chaque pièce et pointions les imperfections….

La difficulté d’exécution de sa musique pour piano nécessite bien sûr une parfaite maîtrise rythmique. La courte durée de certaines pièces et l’écriture tellement minimale exige clarté et netteté, de même que dans les canons une séreuse indépendance est nécessaire à cause des superpositions rythmiques et de la précision des ornementations.

Entre notre première rencontre et notre dernier concert (Arles, Mimi 1er août 1999) je ne garde que de précieux souvenirs musicaux et amicaux. En particulier lors du Festival de Montreux (carte blanche à Stephan Eicher) pour lequel Louis composa quelques jours avant « Mood Montreux », sonate en 3 mouvements. Nous étions bien petits sur cette grande scène devant 3000 personnes…

Notre duo s’est produit entre autres à Stuttgart, à Dortmund, mais surtout à Bielefeld le 26 Mai 1996 ou nous avons fêté ses 80 ans en compagnie de nombreux musiciens, tous honorés de jouer pour lui. Et puis Il y a eu des rencontres artistiques diverses, en particulier celle de son fidèle ami peintre Ernst Fuchs qui aimait nous programmer à l’occasion de ses expositions.

C’est à partir de Montreux que la santé de Louis s’est affaiblie. Juste avant de jouer, un médecin est venu dans  la loge, décidé à l’hospitaliser, mais Louis a voulu que nous jouions malgré tout ! Puis à Arles, la chaleur et l’heure tardive de notre programmation (concert de clôture du festival) a aussi été éprouvante pour lui. Durant le concert, sans doute fatigué, il a modéré ses efforts. Je n’oublierai jamais le moment magique de notre interprétation du sublime canon (n°9 book 5) dans les arènes étoilées avec au loin le klaxon de cette ambulance prémonitoire…! Mais j’étais loin d’imaginer que quelques semaines plus tard j’apprendrais sa disparition. Je pense souvent à lui.

Dominique Ponty

1988 – Transmusicales de Rennes : Moondog – Paris

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Il s’agit d’un article du PM Daily écrit par Natalie Davies (photo : John De Biase).

Traduction à venir.

I’m just a hop-head, and so I’ll be, till I’m dead.
I started hopping when first I hopped into bed.
I took up hop scotch, which had me hopping all day;
But that was kid stuff, and soon I put it away.
I took up fishing, and when the river was low,
I look to hopping, from stone to stone, fish or no,
As I grew older, I took up sailing at sea;
Went island-hopping, a navigational spree.
I’m now a space-man; my flying saucer is fast.
Though slow in coming, I’m panet-hopping, at last.
I’ve reached my limit; no wider worlds to be won.
I’m so unhappy, I wish I’d never begun.

High on a rocky ledge

High on a rocky ledge lives a Mädel, Edelweiß.
Shy as a shadow, lovely as lace, and cold as ice.
High on a rocky ledge, I pledge my love to her,
Ev’ry time I climb up to Paradise.
How many times I’ve been up to see her, goodness knows,
Huffing and puffing, dressed in the warmest climbing clothes.
How many chances would be taken in my
Hopeless pursuit of the Schnee-Mädel, Edelweiß.
Then spoke a spirit, « If you would win your Lady Love,
There’s only one way : fall to your death from high above.
You will begin to grow in snow beside the one
You have waited for to be mated with. »
Now I’m an Edel, vice to my Mädel, Edelweiß.
Dying to be with her wasn’t any sacrifice.
We’re so deliciously happy on our ledge
Where I pledge my love to my Lady Fair.
You who are climbing breathless to see me and my love,
Snow flowers growing fonder on Lover’s Ledge above,
If you’ve the yen to pluck, then pluck us both,
For we who have lived as one, wish to die as one.

Do your thing !

Do your thing !
Be fancy-free to call the tune you sing.
Don’t give up !
That’s not the way to win a loving-cup.
Do your best,
and Opportunity will do the rest.
Don’t give in !
Capitulation is the greatest sin.
Do what’s right,
what’s for you, to do with all your might.
Don’t regret !
What might have been, you might as well forget.
Stand your ground,
and while you’re standing there, be duty-bound.
Learn to wait,
and while you’re waiting, learn to concentrate.
Make amends !
All enemies I call potentiel friends.
Calm your fears,
and hope you cope at least a hunderd years.
Make your mark !
If need be, even make it in the dark.
Mum’s the word !
My sage advice, pretend you haven’t heard.

Enought about human rights !

Enough about Human Rights
What about Wal Rights? What about Snail Rights?
What about Seal Rights? What about Eel Rights?
What about Coon Rights? What about Loon Rights?
What about Wolf Rights? What about, what about, what about,
What about Moose Rights? What about Goose Rights?
What about Lark Rights? What about Shark Rights?
What about Fox Rights? What about Ox Rights?
What about Mole Right? What about, what about, what about,
What about Goat Rights? What about Stoat Rights?
What about Pike Rigths? What about Shrike Rights?
What about Hare Rights? What about Bear Rights?
What about Ape Rights?
Enough about Human Rights!
What about Hog Rights? What about Frog Rights?
What about Kite Rights? What about Mite Rights?
What about Bee Rights? What about Flea Rights?
What about Ant Rights? What about, what about, what about,
What about Bat Rights? What about Gnat Rights?
What about Mouse Rights? What about Louse Right?
What about Cat Rights? What about Rat Rights?
What about Snake Rights? What about, what about, what about,
What about Bug Rights? What about Slug Rights?
What about Bass Rights? What about Ass Rights?
What about Worm Rights? What about Germ Rights?
What about Plant Rights?

I’m This, I’m that

I’m this, I’m that;
I’m sharp, I’m flat.
I’m young, I’m old;
I’m hot, I’m cold.
I’m right, I’m wrong;
I’m weak, I’m strong.
I’m high, I’m low;
I’m fast, I’m slow.
I’m here, I’m there;
I’m foul, I’m fair.
I’m bold, I’m shy;
I’m wet, I’m dry.
I’m doog, I’m bad;
I’m gay, I’m sad.
I’m lost, I’m found;
I’m free, I’m bound.
I’m best, I’m worst;
I’m blessed, I’m crusted.
I’m false, I’m true.
I’m I, I’m you !

Aska me

Aska me about Alaska, if you care a tinker´s damn.
What I have to say about the Russian Bear and Uncle Sam.
Vitus Bering rediscovered Streights that somehow Bear his name,
After they had been discovered many times before he came.
Alexander Baranov, Administra(i)tor to the Czar, Sat in Sitka with his books and paintings, eating caviar.
Then, in 1867, Seward bought it for a song; Sing a song of seven million, and a fifth of something Strong.
Playing for itself in gold, some twenty times the price he payed, « Seward´s Folly » was, by golly, where a killing could be made.
1912, a territory, 1952, a state.
All the Tlingits were so sorry, Uncle Sam had come so late.
When the exploitation´s over and the last exploiter´s gone,
Then whatever left of life and limb can try to carry on.

I’m in the world

I’m in the world
- where Young and Old,
are bought and sold,
but I’m not of it.
… – where Peace and War
are bargained for, . . .
… – where Money talk
to Dove and Hawks, . . .
… – where Kith and Kin
are moving in, . . .
… – where Thought – Controll
is talking toll, . . .
… – where Jokers Make -
Belive the Faks, . . .
… – where Lies are Files
that fill the Skies, . . .
… – where Boom and Bust
are both a must, . . .
… – where Law is Force,
is Trojan Horses, . . .
… – where Good and Bad
are iron-clad, . . .
… – where Pride and Race
is lossing Face, . . .
… – where Talk is cheap,
and Isms creep, . . .
… – where Truth is what,
if not a Plot, . . .
… – where Death is worth
as much as Birth, . . .

Here’s to J.W.H

Here’s to John Wesley Hardin.
No man was quicker on the draw.
Many men tried his metal,
And found it wasn’t wanting lead.
Think of Jane when you judge him.
She loved and lost a wanted man.
Gaming tables were turning,
Against the man who leanred the law.
Wes the Winner was losing,
To fall with bullets in his back.
Bottoms up to a Texan,
What’s more, a relative of mine.

Choo-Choo Lullaby

Choo-Choo Lullaby, sing oh me oh my;
Rock a baby high, Choo-Choo.
Rock a baby low, rock a baby slow,
To Promontory Point we go !
Choo-Choo have you heard ? Mind you, not a word.
Their’s to be a back-tracking,
Back to coal and steam ! Isn’t that a scream ?
I heard it from a miner bird.
Carter wants her back, back to Hackensack,
Carter, out in Wyoming.
Carter wants her back, back to blow her stack,
So Choo-Choo, see what you can do.
Give her back her track, give her back her strack,
Taller than a tale, Choo-Choo.
Give her back her crew, give her back her due,
Along the Californya trail !
Give a boat a sail; give a kite a tail;
Give a drought a rain, Choo-Choo.
Give your dear Ol’ Dad what he never had,
A Honest Engine Choo-Choo Train.
What a « Union Day » is the Trenth of May,
Just for you and me, Choo-Choo.
Past and Future meet, underneath our feet,
A Promontory Point of view !

Pigmy Pig

Pigmy Pig, how big you are, big as Pigmy Seal.
Pigmy Corn, how big you are, big as Pigmy Eal.
Pigmy Elk, how big you are, big as Pigmy Bear.
Pigmy Yam, how big you are, big as Pigmy Hare.
Pigmy Ox, how big you are, big as Pigmy Moose.
Pigmy Leek, how big you are, big as Pigmy Goose.
Pigmy Squash, how big you are, big as Pigmy Coon.
Pigmy Clam, how big you are, big as Pigmy Prune.
Pigmy Trout, how big you are, big as Pigmy Quail.
Pigmy Nut, how big you are, big as Pigmy Snail.
Pigmy Squirl, how big you are, big as Pigmy Beet.
Pigmy Grape, how big you are, big as Pigmy Wheet.
All you Herbivorians, reapers to adore,
if the only food were meat, you would eat no more.
All you Carnivorians, butchers to adore,
if the only food were plant, you would eat no more.
All you Omnivorians, waging total war,
if the only food were meat, you would eat no more.
All the Pigmy Edibles wish you Pigmies well:
« Eat your way to Heaven, or eat your way to Hell! »

Ces trois photographies furent prise en 1989 à la Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Un album en téléchargement libre, disponible depuis novembre 2010.  Dix artistes internationaux revisitent la pièce Fujiyama.

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• Liste des titres :

01. Denis is Moondogging (iN2Ni – 00:03:02)
02. Giampaolo is Moondogging (Giampaolo Violi – 00:03:50)
03. Massimo is Moondogging (Massimo Croce – 00:05:25)
04. Jean is Moondogging (Jean Montag – 00:04:54)
05. Angelo is Moondogging (Cometa – 00:04:46)
06. Antonio is Moondogging (Antonio de Braga – 00:03:52)
07. Steve is Moondogging (Steve Layton – 00:04:41)
08. Marco is Moondogging (Marco Lucchi – 00:09:34)
09. Angelo is Moondogging Again (Cometa – 00:08:28)
10. Benjamin is Moondogging (Eerohz – 00:03:48)

• Écoutez un morceau : Denis is Moondogging