Varèse's 'organised sound'

Ever heard the term 'organised sound'? No? Admittedly, 'organised' is not the first word that sprang to mind when I first listened to the music of French composer Edgard Varèse (1883-1965) who apparently coined the term.

Even nearly half a century after Varèse's death, his compositions - by no means easy listening - are as avant garde as it gets and have earned him the title of 'the father of electronic music'. His explorations in sound got - among others - adolescent Frank Zappa hooked. Zappa's mother, on the other hand, was less enthusiastic: in his article on Varèse, Zappa recalls that after putting The Complete Works of Edgard Varese, Vol. 1 on the family record-player (at full volume) 'I was forbidden to play that record in the living room ever again.'

Below, you can listen to 'Octandre' (1923). As Frank Zappa put it 'I can't give you any structural insights or academic suppositions about how his music works or why I think it sounds so good. His music is completely unique. If you haven't heard it yet, go hear it.'