Taking Sides: Claude Vivier - Lonely Child vs Ornette Coleman - Lonely Woman

It occurred to me the other night that two of my all time favourite pieces of music share a thematic connection.

the former is a really beautiful piece, but alas it isn't Ornette Coleman. But it is an interesting juxtaposition/question - nothing could persuade not to take Ornette's side though, and this isn't even close for me!

I absolutely adore Ornette Coleman but Lonely Child is one of my favourite pieces of music ever.

i was just listening to the latest swamp dogg album and was struck by what a great song "lonely" is. maybe i'll do a "lonely" mix next. vivier won't be on it because goddamn you can't put that shit in a mix

I've been listening to the recording of "Lonely Child" on the 1984 Centrediscs LP every morning before work the last few days and thinking about how both of these pieces evoke loneliness by presenting a lyrical melody in a kind of isolation or starkness: in "Lonely Woman", the sax and trumpet are metrically disconnected from the rhythm section; in the Vivier, the orchestra is basically just supporting the singer in a dense but m/l homophonic texture. In a sense, though, it's the opposite idea, which is interesting. Both pieces also work with pitches outside equal temperament.