Category Archives: Frank Zappa

Roland Barthes Interpretes Zappa: The Perfect Photo

Posted on June 7, 2011 by Paul Carr

While working on my book on Frank Zappa, I am currently reading a lot of Roland Barthes, and have started to consider how some of his ideas can apply to music. There is a really interesting chapter in his book … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic, Frank Zappa, Musicology | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Frank Zappa Analysis with Dave Frank

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Paul Carr

Here is a UStream cast by pianist and educator Dave Frank on Frank Zappa’s music. The session starts with some solo piano playing of none Zappa material (really nice), followed by some interesting analysis on Zappa’s tonal, modal, and atonal … Continue reading →

Posted in Frank Zappa, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Frank Zappa and Gesture

Posted on March 21, 2011 by Paul Carr

Here is a powerpoint presentation which looks at an approach to using an artist as a musicological case study. After explaining some potential generic approaches, it looks at Frank Zappa as a case study  

Posted in Academic, Frank Zappa | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Zappa and the And: Book progress

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Paul Carr

Well, here we go – the first preview of the chapter abstracts for the new Frank Zappa book I am editing – Frank Zappa and the And: Key Essays on the Contextualisation of his Legacy. So far, everything is going … Continue reading →

Posted in Frank Zappa, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Meaning in the album cover of Zappa’s Overnite Sensation

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Paul Carr

Kill Ugly Radio posted a great link to the original art work of Frank Zappa’s Overnite Sensation today. When looking through the pics, it prompted me to think that there is so much meaning in this work of Art – … Continue reading →

Posted in Frank Zappa, Musicology | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Semiology in Music: Phil Tagg as an example

Posted on February 28, 2011 by Paul Carr

OK. This week’s musicology session examined the techniques employed by Phil Tagg – on of the most influencial musicologists when it comes to popular music. The powerpoint is included below, but the key questions I am asking the students to … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic, Frank Zappa, Musicology | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

More Meaning in Music: How does form impact music?

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Paul Carr

My last musicology lecture focused on the basics – how do the elements of music impact form. Firstly, the presentation for this can be found here. These are the questions I want students/interested parties to discuss on the blog •Examples … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic, Frank Zappa, Musicology | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

New Frank Zappa Book

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Paul Carr

I eventually got the contract for my Zappa edited collection this week ‘Zappa and the And: A Contextual Analysis of his Legacy’.  If everything goes to plan, it will be released toward the end of 2012, and I will use … Continue reading →

Posted in Frank Zappa, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Frank Zappa: December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993

Posted on December 4, 2010 by Paul Carr

On the anniversary of Frank Zappa’s death, I thought it appropriate for me to write my own tribute to him.  As a young person growing up in the 1970’s, I was introduced to Zappa’s music at around the age of … Continue reading →

Posted in Frank Zappa | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Yet Another Zappa Legacy – Mr Bungle

Posted on June 6, 2010 by Paul Carr

I seem to be on a roll at the moment in terms of thinking of bands that continue Frank Zappa’s legacy. I band that I have been aware of for a while now is ‘Mr Bungle’. Although they yet again … Continue reading →

Posted in Frank Zappa | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment