Part 1…Kurt Schwitters 
above: VAG write-up on Schwitters’ Ursonate. below: a performance of Ursonate.
above: Example of the VAG’s exhibited reproductions of the score of Ursonate. The light, however, was too low for a clear photograph so I have taken a short extract of the score from the web, below:
| Fümms bö wö tää zää Uu, pögiff, kwii Ee. |
1 |
| Oooooooooooooooooooooooo, | 6 |
| dll rrrrr beeeee bö dll rrrrr beeeee bö fümms bö, (A) rrrrr beeeee bö fümms bö wö, beeeee bö fümms bö wö tää, bö fümms bö wö tää zää, fümms bö wö tää zää Uu: |
5 |
| primera parte: | |
| tema 1: Fümms bö wö tää zää Uu, pögiff, Kwii Ee. |
1 |
| tema 2: Dedesnn nn rrrrr, Ii Ee, mpiff tillff too, tillll, Jüü Kaa? |
2 |
| tema 3: Rinnzekete bee bee nnz krr müü? ziiuu ennze, ziiuu rinnzkrrmüü, |
3 |
| rakete bee bee, | 3a |
| tema 4 Rrummpff tillff toooo? |
4 |
| exposición: | |
| Ziiuu ennze ziiuu nnzkrrmüü, Ziiuu ennze ziiuu rinnzkrrmüü |
ü3 |
| rakete bee bee? rakete bee zee. | ü3a |
| desarrollo: | |
| Fümms bö wö tää zää Uu, Uu zee tee wee bee fümms. |
ü1 |
| rakete rinnzekete rakete rinnzekete (B) rakete rinnzekete rakete rinnzekete rakete rinnzekete rakete rinnzekete Beeeee bö |
ü3+ 3a |
| fö böwö fümmsbö böwörö fümmsböwö böwörötää fümmsböwötää böwörötääzää fümmsböwötääzää böwörötääzääUu fümmsböwötääzääUu böwörötääzääUu pö fümmsböwötääzääUu pö böwörötääzääUu pögö fümmsböwötääzääUu pögö böwörötääzääUu pögiff fümmsböwötääzääUu pögiff kwiiEe. |
1 |
| rakete rinnzekete rakete rinnzekete (C) rakete rinnzekete rakete rinnzekete rakete rinnzekete rakete rinnzekete Beeeee bö |
ü3+ 3a |
| fö böwö fümmsbö böwörö fümmsböwö böwörötää fümmsböwötää böwörötääzää fümmsböwötääzää böwörötääzääUu fümmsböwötääzääUu böwörötääzääUu pö fümmsböwötääzääUu pö böwörötääzääUu pögö fümmsböwötääzääUu pögö böwörötääzääUu pögiff fümmsböwötääzääUu pögiff kwiiEe. |
1 |
NEXT – Brian Eno covers Kurt Schwitters.
Thanks John for revealing so much more to this amazing artist who I had only known for his collages. His sound poetry is most confronting but truly unique. I see The Marlborough Gallery were involved in another controversy over his estate (not sure if you followed The Rothko Conspiracy in the 70’s). Another fabulous post!
I also was not aware of Schwitters sound poetry (I need to get out more)…So great to discover it…this Mashup show is full of new experiences for me like this.
I don’t know about the controversy of which you speak, could you send me a link please. Thanks for your thoughts Robert…
This is marvelous John…like a sound massage. The other day my grandson Enzo and I were making shapes out of clay and as we concentrated on snake rolling we each began alternately making sounds… not really paying attention to what came out, nor even building on each others vocalizations. A snake rolling sonata. After hearing this I’m definitely up for more. Thanks for sharing this wonderful experiment!
Thank you for that lovely story Jana. I can hear you and Enzo and your snake rolling sonata. Yes, nicely put, a sound massage, pummeled and soothed! When I heard it I was transported, a 7 minute journey through every human feeling…primitive and now, physical and soulful.
I hadn’t watched this in years, thanks so much for bringing it back to mind! 😃
You are always welcome my friend…
Great mashup. love the eno schwitters connection. well done.
Thank you Terry