Documentary_Frank Zappa:The Present Day Composer Refuses to Die

Frank Zappa:The Present Day Composer Refuses to Die is first of Scheffer’s documentary movies in his FZ trilogy.

Scheffer’s films on music constitute a synopsis of the terrific composers of the 20th century — from Conducting Mahler (1996) on the 1995 Mahler Festival in Amsterdam with Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Chailly, Riccardo Muti and Simon Rattle to Five Orchestral Pieces (1994) on Arnold Schönberg's work conducted by Michael Gielen and The Final Chorale (1990) on Igor Stravinsky's Symphonies of Wind Instruments conducted by Reinbert de Leeuw.

Scheffer is likewise focusing on several specific films on certain composers. The Present Day Composer Refuses to Die on Frank Zappa, in partnership with the Zappa Family Trust, showcasing The Mothers of Invention, Pierre Boulez and Ensemble Modern along with the 90-minute Zappa feature Phaze II, The Big Note, then follows a third film (Frank Zappa - A Pioneer of the Future of Music) which has finished his Zappa trilogy.

Documentary- Frank Zappa:The Present Day Composer Refuses to Die

Documentary« Frank Zappa:The Present Day Composer Refuses to Die« Includes footage from:

FZ, Ronnie Williams and others at the studio, c. 1962-63
The Steve Allen Show, 1963
Shrine Exposition Hall, LA, 1966 (from You Are What You Eat)
Garrick Theatre, 1967
Cover photo session for We're Only In It For The Money, 1967
Recording sessions of We're Only In It For The Money (prob. Mayfair Studios), 1967
Vienna, 1968
Berlin, 1968
Royal Festival Hall, 1968
MOI 1968-69 Home Movies
Fillmore West, 1970
FZ interview with Roelof Kiers at home (VPRO, 1970)
Stockholm, 1973
KCET TV, 1974
The Palladium, 1977
FZ & Ensemble Modern, LA, July, 1991
FZ & Ensemble Modern, Frankfurt, July, 1992
Ensemble Modern rehearsing "Amnerika," c. 2000
Interviews with Gail Zappa, Tom Fowler, Ian Underwood, George Duke, Dweezil Zappa, Joe Travers, Bruce Fowler, Pierre Boulez, Todd Yvega & Ali N. Askin
Interview with Edgard Varèse