"…there isn't actually anything particularly memorable in the piece as a whole; one is caught up with it while it's happening, but as soon as the last notes die away, nothing remains apart from feelings growing vaguer with each passing second."
I can't see how this can be anything other than a negative comment. True, the music may be highly effective in communicating with the listener – but communicating what? I agree, I don't hear 'black' at all in the first movement – but I also agree, that is completely subjective. But, a little like Ferneyhough, this music seems mostly about 'effect' to me, in the sense that it creates lots of short-term 'sound-moments' if you will, which stir the listener, but not necessarily to a sense of appreciation. Maybe one is stirred more often to a state agitation, even at times to perplexity. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but may seriously reduce it's wide appeal. Again, many will say that is no bad thing. But, as much as I love new music and dioscovering new inventions, this music has too little for me to 'hang onto'. But each to their own.
Funnily enough, I can hear this music as an effective accompaniment to a thriller movie – maybe even at times to a horror movie. In a good way, that is.
Thanks – you've moved me to seek it out on the bbc website, as I missed the concert.
Programme notes often do music no favours. It's very hard not to sound precious or pretentious and very easy to direct the listener's attention away from the unsayable to what can be said. I noticed it only today, in the Baltic gallery (in Gateshead). In this case it was the blurb that accompanied an exhibition – a diferent art form, but the same problem.
5:4
13 years ago
Hi lescamil – as far as i know, only the 2nd and 3rd are available on CD; one can only hope that situation will change in the not too distant future.
I'm really excited to hear this, having heard his second and third concertos for orchestra. I'd like to hear the first and fourth sometime. Are these available for purchase somewhere, do you know?
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"…there isn't actually anything particularly memorable in the piece as a whole; one is caught up with it while it's happening, but as soon as the last notes die away, nothing remains apart from feelings growing vaguer with each passing second."
I can't see how this can be anything other than a negative comment. True, the music may be highly effective in communicating with the listener – but communicating what? I agree, I don't hear 'black' at all in the first movement – but I also agree, that is completely subjective. But, a little like Ferneyhough, this music seems mostly about 'effect' to me, in the sense that it creates lots of short-term 'sound-moments' if you will, which stir the listener, but not necessarily to a sense of appreciation. Maybe one is stirred more often to a state agitation, even at times to perplexity. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but may seriously reduce it's wide appeal. Again, many will say that is no bad thing. But, as much as I love new music and dioscovering new inventions, this music has too little for me to 'hang onto'. But each to their own.
Funnily enough, I can hear this music as an effective accompaniment to a thriller movie – maybe even at times to a horror movie. In a good way, that is.
Thanks – you've moved me to seek it out on the bbc website, as I missed the concert.
Programme notes often do music no favours. It's very hard not to sound precious or pretentious and very easy to direct the listener's attention away from the unsayable to what can be said. I noticed it only today, in the Baltic gallery (in Gateshead). In this case it was the blurb that accompanied an exhibition – a diferent art form, but the same problem.
Hi lescamil – as far as i know, only the 2nd and 3rd are available on CD; one can only hope that situation will change in the not too distant future.
I'm really excited to hear this, having heard his second and third concertos for orchestra. I'd like to hear the first and fourth sometime. Are these available for purchase somewhere, do you know?