Published on Nov 19, 2012
Artis Wodehouse performs Charles Ives’ (1874-1954) Burlesque on London Bridge live on the Melodeon concert 11/11/12 at Church of the Epiphany, NYC. This humorous piece, a
bitonal, rhythmically-displaced and vaudevillian version of the popular song, was reconstructed by Kenneth Singleton from sketches of the 17-year-old Charles Ives. It is now published by Presser as part of a collection of the complete organ works of Charles Ives. Wodehouse plays on her restored 1889 Mason & Hamlin Liszt organ. This foot-pump reed organ was considered a top-of-the-line instrument during its heyday in the latter 19th century. Ives was 17 in 1891.
The piece is remarkable in that by age 17, so many pieces of the Ives puzzle are already apparent. Humor, vernacular styles, referencing iconic, well-known tunes, stream-of-consciousness (the interruption of a strange chord — “Sunrise over Mirey Brook” — a beautiful stream located in new Hampshire – Ives’ must have been along it’s banks at some point) and multiple, simultaneously sounding keys.
Melodeon is a chamber group founded by Artis Wodehouse that centers on American music of the 19th and early 20th century. Wodehouse places special emphasis on performing music from this period on restored antique American instruments from her collection.
This recording and video was captured by Whitney Slaten. Restoration work on Wodehouse’s Liszt organ was done by Randolph Herr, with tuning and adjustments by Louis Huivenaar.
