Amériques
Amériques is a composition by Edgard Varèse, written in 1921, but it remained unperformd until 1926.
It was his first work composed in the United States, since he moved to the country in 1915 because of World War I. It was at the completion of this work that Varèse, along with Carlos Salzedo, founded the International Composers' Guild, dedicated to the performances of new compositions of both American and European composers. The ICG's manifesto in July 1921 included the statement that
"The present day composers refuse to die. They have realised the necessity of banding together and fighting for the right of each individual to secure a fair and free presentation of his work."
Quotes by Zappa about "Amériques"
In "Son of Suzy Creamcheese", an article by Robert Shelton, The New York Times, 1966, Zappa said of Amériques; "It blows my mind. It’s my favorite top-40 record".
"I mean, a piece like Amériques by Edgard Varèse (...) would scare the average teenager to death. and I mean really scare 'em to death. Vanguard just released a recording of it."."
(Zappa in [[Don Paulsen interviews FZ])
"I would recommend the Chicago Symphony recording of Arcana on RCA (at full volume) or the Utah Symphony recording of "Amériques' on Vanguard."
(Edgar Varèse:The Idol of My Youth)
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