Ensemble Ambrosius specializes in contemporary music written or arranged for Baroque instruments. Their latest victim: Frank Zappa. I never imagined that Zappa’s uniquely unclassifiable pop/classical concoctions would sound so vital, convincing, and idiomatic on period, er, I mean “non-period” instruments. The spiky rhythms and piercing sonorities typical of electronic keyboard modules and amplified reed instruments translate well to the Baroque harpsichord, organ, oboe, and recorder. What’s more, the timbral variety throughout these performances easily compensates for the absence of bass and drums. In fact, Zappa’s leapfrogging melodic sense and metric restlessness attain newfound poigancy from an “unplugged” vantagepoint. The snidely elegant “Idiot Bastard Son” is the only vocal piece, and I wish the ensemble had included more samples of Zappa’s verbal irreverence. Perhaps they can de-construct “Billy The Mountain” as a cantata, rewrite “Help I’m A Rock” as a madrigal, or transform “Willie The Pimp” into the court dance it deserves. Even if you’re not familiar with the Zappa originals, the music speaks for itself in these wonderful “de-rangements”. I hope this sells a million copies–and goes to number one with a bullet. Then Ensemble Ambrosius will have no choice but to record a follow-up volume. Brilliant stuff, dudes!
