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Moondog, The Viking of 6th Avenue: The Authorized Biography

"Moondog is one of America’s great originals." — Alan Rich, New York Magazine

Here is one of the most improbable lives of the twentieth century: a blind and homeless man who became the most famous eccentric in New York and who, with enormous diligence, rose to prominence as an internationally respected music presence.

Born Louis Thomas Hardin in 1916, Moondog first made an impression in the late 1940s when he became a mascot of The New York Philharmonic at Carnegie Hall. His unique, melodic compositions were released on the Prestige jazz label. In the late 1960s the Viking-garbed Moondog was a pop music sensation on Columbia Records. Moondog is the noted inspiration for the contemporary freak folk movement led by Devendra Banhart.

Moondog's compositional style influenced his former roommate, Philip Glass, whose Preface and performances of Moondog works appear in the book. Moondog's work transcends labels and redefines the distinction between popular and high culture. A CD compilation with a variety of Moondog's compositions is bound into the book.

The CD tracklisting is as follows:

1: Caribea (1:32)

Performer/Composer: Moondog

2: To a Sea Horse (1:43)

Performer/Composer: Moondog

3: Trees Against the Sky (.51)

Performer/Composer: Moondog

4: Oo Debut (1:09)

Performer/Composer: Moondog

5: Autumn (2:07)

Performer/Composer: Moondog

6: Moondog Monologue (8:24)

Performer/Composer: Moondog

7: Moondog’s Theme (1:53)

Performer/Composer: Moondog

8: Trimbas in Quarters (1:47)

Performer/Composer: Moondog

9: I Came Into This World Alone (1:19)

Performers: Moondog, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Jon Gibson

Composer: Moondog

10: Be a Hobo (1:22)

Performers: Moondog, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Jon Gibson

Composer: Moondog

11: Why Spend the Dark Night With You (1:40)

Performers: Moondog, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Jon Gibson

Composer: Moondog

12: All is Loneliness (1:38)

Performers: Moondog, Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Jon Gibson

Composer: Moondog

13: Organ Rounds (2:04)

Performer/Composer: Moondog

14: Canon in F Major, Book I (.43)

Performer: Paul Jordan

Composer: Moondog

15: Canon in B Flat Major, Book III (1:36)

Performer: Paul Jordan

Composer: Moondog

16: Canon in B Flat Major, Book I (.43)

Performer: Paul Jordan

Composer: Moondog

17: Canon in B Flat Major, Book II (.28)

Performer: Paul Jordan

Composer: Moondog

18: Canon in G Sharp Minor, Book I (.44)

Performer: Paul Jordan

Composer: Moondog

19: Canon in C Sharp Minor, Book II (1:32)

Performer: Paul Jordan

Composer: Moondog

20: 5/4 Snakebite Rattle (3:41)

Performer: Stefan Lakatos

Composer: Moondog

21: Trimbas and Woodblock in 5/2 (1:26)

Performer: Stefan Lakatos

Composer: Moondog

22: When I Am Deep in Sleep (2:17)

Performer: Stefan Lakatos

Composer: Moondog

23: Rabbit Hop (2:25)

Performer/Composer: Moondog

24: Dog Trot (2:25)

Performer/Composer: Moondog

25: Bird’s Lament (2:00)

Performer/Composer: Moondog

26: Viking 1 (2:55)

Performer/Composer: Moondog

27: Heimdall Fanfare (3:06)

Performer/Composer: Moondog

28: Intro and Overtone Continuum (2:22)

Performer/Composer: Moondog

  • Format
  • paperback
  • Pages
  • 280
  • Language
  • english
  • ISBN
  • 9780976082286
  • Genres
  • music, biography
  • Release date
  • 2007