David Dramm : Baton Rouge Massacre (1997/2001)

Notes by the composer :
"... Any group called ELECTRA needs a piece based on its namesake. And so the majestic and horrific tale of a princess who, along with her brother, avenges the murder of her father by her mother is replayed once again. In 'Baton Rouge Massacre', the story has been transported to the state capitol of Louisiana where the daughter of the governor finds herself on the run, hiding out from her vicious mother and her lover. Several questions are left hanging; was Electra born out of wedlock? Was her father himself without secrets? The state of Louisiana has had a long history of colorful governors; the character of Manny T. Rhodes was not one of them, but he could of been.

Musically, Baton Rouge Massacre leans heavily on an obscure pop jewel from the sixties by Burt Bacharach, Land of Make Believe. This piece is made possible through the financial support of Fonds voor de Scheppende Toonkunst, Amsterdam.

David Dramm ..."

Text Baton Rouge Massacre : David Dramm (2002)

Mom shot Dad.
She said, 'Manny, you were my king, but three's a crowd'.

I was born in the backwaters of Baton Rouge
with a long, gleaming silver spoon in my mouth
lifted from the service of the gov'ner of Louisiana
my Daddy, Manny T. Rhodes.

Manny was gone.
Getting another medal from the Legionaires (Fifth time this year).
A Cuban lover came knocking, he danced so smooth across my mama's ballroom floor.
Foul thoughts, foul play, a greedy paramour.

'Mourning becomes her', you heard them say.
Who wouldn't want to play queen for a day.

The first lady of Louisiana had the body tied down so it wouldn't float.
and moved in to her old man's office on a sympathy vote.

So far away, I know, dear little brother O.
I'll miss you so.
But there at least I can cry in the sunshine of Riobamba
no New Orleans paparazzi creeping about.

I'll SMS you once from Texas and once from Ecuador.
We¹ll make a plan when things cool out for old Mom and her Havana paramour.

David Dramm (b.1961) was born in Illinois, growing up in San Diego, California. His composition studies began with Robert Erickson at University of California, San Diego and, later, at Yale University with Louis Andriessen and Earle Brown. The Volkskrant described his music as "the ground-breaking terrain between Charles Ives, Jimi Hendrix and Lou Reed." The NRC Handlesblad wrote, 'As rock musician, writer and composer, Dramm is creating a furore in Holland'.

His performances include appearances in such diverse venues as the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the BIM-huis and Paradiso. His music has been performed regularly throughout Europe and elsewhere including Woch Der Niederländischen Musik in Leipzig, Darmstadt, Freunde Guter Musik in Berlin, Holland Festival, Dutch Music Days, New Music Days in Tallinn, Estonia and the Finnish 'Time of Music' Festival. Recent commissions have included works for ASKO Ensemble, Orkest de Volharding, the Albany Symphony's, 'Dogs of Desire', Tomoko Mukaiyama, Aurelia Saxophone Quartet, Frances-Marie Uitti and Scapino Ballet. He collaborates regularly with flutist Anne La Berge.

His evening-length composition 'Orange Slice' will be performed at the Swiss EXPO in Biel this summer. Recordings of his music are available on BVHaast, Vanguard Classics, Einstein, Composer¹s Voice and X-OR. Dramm's music is published by MGN and voLsap Music. David Dramm lives and works in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Visit website : www.daviddramm.com