You will claim it is because no composers remain that are adventurous enough for your tastes. You will claim massive boundless regions of untapped potential waiting just beyond the horizon, a mere scraping of piano strings or a wailing of sine waves away from being unveiled.
And yet, never will it be enough. Because the joy of the craft will be forgotten to you, so overly intellectualized to the point of Prokofiev’s wit becoming banal, Bolcom’s thrilling syncopation becomes ash in your mouth. Music becomes nothing more than a celebration of your capacity to be above it all.
I appreciate you recording the content of the proms, that we may render our own judgement over these pieces, but I cannot say I envy you.
Thank you for a perceptive review, but – cutting edge or not – the lively performance, sandwiched between the gentler delights of Mother Goose and La Mer, made for an enjoyable Prom. It’s La Mer that’s still swirling around in my mind but I’d definitely give Peculiar Menagerie another go. I think there was an element of sharp comment amongst all the charm and fun.
Chris L
8 years ago
Listening to this, I quickly placed it within the fantastical/dreamlike tradition exemplified by David del Tredici’s An Alice Symphony, a piece cited approvingly by Philip Clark in A New Tonality. Whether a piece’s belonging to this tradition is a good thing is, of course, a matter of taste…and, judging by the votes cast above, Simon, the various tastes of your readership on this point differ sharply!
Unlock with Patreon
One day, you shall run out of new.
You will claim it is because no composers remain that are adventurous enough for your tastes. You will claim massive boundless regions of untapped potential waiting just beyond the horizon, a mere scraping of piano strings or a wailing of sine waves away from being unveiled.
And yet, never will it be enough. Because the joy of the craft will be forgotten to you, so overly intellectualized to the point of Prokofiev’s wit becoming banal, Bolcom’s thrilling syncopation becomes ash in your mouth. Music becomes nothing more than a celebration of your capacity to be above it all.
I appreciate you recording the content of the proms, that we may render our own judgement over these pieces, but I cannot say I envy you.
Nor i you, if that’s your jaded view of music (or me).
Thank you for a perceptive review, but – cutting edge or not – the lively performance, sandwiched between the gentler delights of Mother Goose and La Mer, made for an enjoyable Prom. It’s La Mer that’s still swirling around in my mind but I’d definitely give Peculiar Menagerie another go. I think there was an element of sharp comment amongst all the charm and fun.
Listening to this, I quickly placed it within the fantastical/dreamlike tradition exemplified by David del Tredici’s An Alice Symphony, a piece cited approvingly by Philip Clark in A New Tonality. Whether a piece’s belonging to this tradition is a good thing is, of course, a matter of taste…and, judging by the votes cast above, Simon, the various tastes of your readership on this point differ sharply!