Journey into Daylight 14. He is better known to some musicians, including Pierre Boulez, as a composer of innovative contemporary symphonic, chamber, and electronic music. Citing musical influences as diverse as Edgard Varese, Igor Stravinsky, Anton Webern, and Spike Jones, Zappa has established himself as an eclectic, self- trained artist and a composer with incredible creative energy, not to mention biting wit. Envelopes and The Dogbreath Variations exist in arrangements for a variety of instrumental groups in addition to wind ensemble, including four piece rock band, small electric band, and symphony orchestra. All of these versions are by Zappa.
Envelopes is a dark, brooding work, full of thickly-voiced dissonances and chromatic melodies.
Both of these settings were commissioned by the Netherlands Wind Ensemble. Our sincere thanks to patrick Brooks for his efforts in bringing these pieces to our attention. The CCM Wind Symphony disc is very good and here the Zappa is a highlight.