To provide some background for you, Christine Ott has broad musical horizons – from contemporary music to opera, through film music, improvisation, theatre, dance and song. She is probably most famous for accompanying French rock star Yann Tiersen on stage and assisting him with his recorded work. She has also collaborated with Jonny Greenwood, Stuart Staples, Loic Lantoine and Radiohead.
Miss Ott was also gold medalist at the Conservatoire National de Strasbourg, achieved fame and won prizes at the National Conservatory of Music and Dance in Paris, and been soloist with the orchestra Ondist Palermo, Teatro Massimo and Teatro Politeama Garibaldi on several occasions.
Even though her background is very classical almost too closeted in that world, I feel her musical direction is always guided by her desire to observe no borders and demonstrates her willingness to share her passion for music. Working in close collaboration with young composers in order to reinvigorate the repertoire of the Ondes Martenot, she has created her masterpiece that has, in recent times proved both therapeutic and restorative for me.
For your information an Ondes Martenot, as played by my mother in the above photograph was one of the first electronical music instruments, created by Maurice Martenot in 1928. This monophonic instrument with oscillator is composed of a suspended keyboard with lateral translation which allows pitch-bending and vibrato. A “Ruban” or ring attached to a ribbon runs along the keyboard, and by sliding or elevating this ring the performer can play glissandi “touche d’expression” or a loudness control key with the left hand. Very soft and precise, this key must be activated to obtain any sound and it gives all the intensity’s variations from pianissimo to fortissimo. Consider the analogy between this key and the archer of strings instruments – it is a truly an amazing musical instrument.
With Miss Otts’ new album consisting of ten pieces we discover, through the richness of her compositions, her passion for the Ondes Martenot. We also discover her passion for melody, for warmth and her overriding passion for music. I can honestly say that this passion, this music has enabled me to put one foot in front of the other and begin the long road back to health.
Please let my two samples float inside your head as they encapsulate all that, for me, is virtuous and noble in today’s world, a truly remarkable body of work, by a truly remarkable young lady.
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Also, for your enjoyment a live performance of Miss Ott performing with Narcophony. I believe it demonstrates what a wonderful musical instrument the Ondes Martenot is.
Ref:
www.MySpace.com,
wireless-mesh-fm-radio-tv-media.blogspot.com
Thanks Ken for your interesting post – the music is certainly very calming and therapeutic which begs me to ask why there is someone trying to dance to it in the video (around 4 min 15 sec)??
Mmh, very interesting indeed. Not so sure about the calming and therapeutic effect though. Maybe a bit boring at first, though not so much so if you can actually see what’s going on, but once the other instruments start to join in it all comes together. The instrument itself has a very meditative sound!
I had heard of Christine Ott before, but more in a Jazzsinger – Songwriter context and I am not surprised to see that she plays the Martenot as well.
One thing I am not too happy about is to see Yann Tiersen reduced to “a French Rock Star”. That’s about the last title I would have given him. Well, apart from the word French maybe.
Lovely photo of you mother’s, Ken. Thanks for the post! I enjoyed listening to the samples though I much prefer the live video.
Wow beautiful music , i have already been to amazon and bought the music , and what and instrument i have never seen or heard of the Ondes Martenot and i have seen many strange and wonderfull instruments on my travels this is just an amazing sound i love it , i am not supprised you find it therapeutic
realy great post
Hi Ken – not sure I’m going to give this the thumbs up – listened to your samples a few times and listened to more of Miss Ott on myspace and…….well its OK, and while I’m not a big classical music fan or chamber music fan (whatever genre) this is – I can appreciate and enjoy.
But sadly I haven’t enjoyed this album and it is not one that I will be buying – but thanks again for posting Ken, your input here is appreciated.
Great to see a post from you Ken. The music you have provided is wonderfully atmospheric and given the right cicumstances is a pleasurable listening experience. It’s cinematic in parts and could be part of an interesting soundtrack.
I have to agree with Techy this album would make a great soundtrack for a film
personaly i have fallen in love with the sound of this amazing instrument i just love weird sounding instuments and this instrument is Wonderfull , i would love to try and play one someday .
Barbarus hic ergo sum, Techy, as soon as I read the words “cinematic” and “soundtrack” I couldn’t help but picture the movie. So – just for you – here’s my script:
You’re lying in the middle of a beautiful, calming, sunny and strangely colourful meadow surrounded by a carpet of sweet smelling flowers of weird size and shape. The birds are singing and the bees are buzzing and the rabbits are happily rabbiting. The sky is blue – not a cloud to be seen – and you can hear a gentle breeze softly rustling the tree tops. All is right with the world! And you even made some new friends – some guinea pigs have come closer, attracted by the weird smell that is emanated by the strange smoking device in your right hand. They hop over to see you – and oh, they’re ever so cute, with their furry little coats and the funny little noises they produce – are they trying to deliver a message? They keep on squeaking funny little messages in Guineapigean, but unfortunately you won’t understand them for they do not know how to spell. Suddenly you realise the buzzing of the insects around you getting more and more frantic and then the giant space lobsters appear and eat all the guinea pigs. Yay!
The End
Isn’t it wonderful what this music can do to you?
Are you sure it’s not ‘The strange smoking device in your right hand’ Spacepiggy?
It all sounds like an episode of ‘The Clangers’ to me!
The soup dragon is my friend (:
For all those who don’t know the Clangers (soundtrack by C. Ott):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3rWghGSm4Y
You shouldn’t be giving me ideas, Cheezey!
Ahh – that’s lovely Spacepiggy, but was thinking more Film Noir than Murder in Teletubby Land.
the Clangers are great , but i like your idea as well Spiggy would make a great short film
could relise it at the Cannes festival it would be a hit
Hey guys I thought this was supposed to be a serious discussion on the Ondzee Mondes and that bird Ottis – come on show a little respect here.
My first girlfriend smelt like the Soup Dragon
What flavour soup LD.Fish wouldn’t be good,but mushroom would be quite sexy.
Garlic and herbs?
Mulligatawny?
cabbage broccoli cheese?
Note to all
I am gratified that you find Miss Otts music worthy of all your comments and feedback even though some are more humorous than one would have imagined. I am particularly fond of Bert and Miss Spacepiggys comments, you both have a good ear for music, Miss Spacepiggy are you classically trained?
I was chatting to my mother, via Ouija board last night, and she is extremely happy to be part of this discussion and wishes you all health and happiness
Best wishes to your mother, Ken, long life and happiness! Indeed, I enjoyed classical training for the best part of 15 years and then turned to Jazz & Blues Improvisation. What gave me away? The giant space lobsters?
Quick question for ken if he doesn’t mind. I have listened closely to these tracks and whilst on the whole, they don’t really move me very much, the sound of the Ondes Martenot does appear to be very unique and worth exploring.
You have said that Miss Ott collaborated with Radiohead. Do you know which CD this collaboration was in relation to? Did she play this instrument on any of the Radiohead tracks?
I have to point out that I am no great fan of Radiohead, but I am interested in hearing how this weirdest of keyboard type thingys works in a contemporary music setting.
Must also add, fantastic photo of your mother, looks like you come from a long line of musicians.
everyone who says this is boring or brings up the clangers are I think retards. this is so intense music.
Hi elash and welcome to musicforthemonth.com
This is quite an old post by one of my regulars here but one that created some good comments. I hadn’t heard too much about Miss Ott or the Ondes Martenot but it is, as you say quite intense. Can you recommend anyother artists or bands that you think we may enjoy.
Thanks for posting a comment
Laughing Dog
Is it just me, or has Elash come on a bit strong here?
Having known all the posters on here for some time now, I can confirm that not one of them is a “retard” (well maybe me but that’s beside the point). Yes we all have different tastes in music, and we don’t always agree with each other, but at least there is mutual respect for differing opinions and tastes. I don’t think that Elash has recognised how light heartedly this was all done. I remember at the time it was a great conversation and I just wish we could have more like it.
To call anyone a retard simply because they offer a different opinion to your own, to me is, well, simply – retarded.
This happens a lot on the the Amazon Music/Rock Forums Spacey.
Someone chucks in an insult, everyone takes umbrage,but the postee is long gone.
I could be wrong though?
Hi Mr S and Mr C – to be honest it took me a while to approve elashs comment as I thought it was a little harsh but I wanted to give him a chance as its always nice to have a new voice on here.
I agree with you Spacey that was a good discussion – we should have more like that, any suggestions?