Proms 2017: Gerald Barry – Canada (World Première)

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Daniel Pett

Like “I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue”, I think Gerald Barry should come with the tagline “The antidote to composers”. His twitter Q&A, hosted by NMC (https://storify.com/nmcrecordings/gerald-barry-q-and-a) shows that he is worth of it.

Personally, I’m really looking forward to how he will apply his “not giving a s***” style to the organ concerto that he’s writing for the CBSO.

Daniel Pett

Well exactly. When other composers get a commision, I imagine and hope they try to put as much thought and effort into it as possible. Barry just provided some music which, whilst undeniably for 6 minutes there were musicians doing stuff, was amazingly contentless on an artistic level.

All of his pieces are just him exploiting the freedom to write almost nothing. Still. I much preferred the stupidity and laziness of conception of Canada to the over-intellectualisation of Grids for Greed

Steven

Purcell’s dirty songs are quite ‘contentless on an artistic level’, but they’re rather good fun to listen to and sing. Canada is a six-minute piece of entertainment, and seemed a good fit for the Proms. (I liked it a lot, but will readily admit that the bit he tacked on about surveillance borders on pretentious.)

There’s something to be said for music that means nothing — refreshingly silly music, music for it’s own mischievous sake. In Canada, Barry gives us taut, highly concentrated, meticulous nonsense. But I wouldn’t say this is necessarily representative of his oeuvre. A work like ‘Beethoven’ could hardly be interpreted as superficial, lazy or stupid.

Must admit, though, I rather enjoyed your review

Dan JC

I wonder if Barry’s music has had an influence on a certain Mr. Thomas Adès? I’m aware that you were extremely unimpressed with Adès’ latest operatic effort, and I think I can hear some of Barry’s goofiness, and his love of inserting musical quotations, in that opera. Adès is after all one of Barry’s most vociferous champions…

Personally I did find this piece quite funny, although I was definitely laughing at it and not with it. I wholly agree with your assessment of it; you really are getting good use out of that “unforgivable just crazily inept bullshit” tag this season. Indeed, as an Irishman myself, I almost feel the need to apologise on behalf of my country for this utter garbage.

Jen

The lack of understanding you have for this piece and the degree to which it therefore infuriates you, just makes me confirm my love for it. Terrible review.

Bob

I think it’s silly to write such a negative review of such a nothingy piece. Barry’s already an amazing composer, The Intelligence Park and Chevaux-de-frise are the best things since 1980 imo. ENO got similar reviews for Petra Von Kant in 2005 (?) from people who didn’t get it. It’s not for everyone, sure, but I think one’s reaction to his music says a lot about the listener. Some people get the joke, others get frustrated looking for a joke. I guess it depends how comfortable you are outside your musical comfort zone.

[…] inner pulse. Kafka’s Earplugs lacked the rampant monotony that plagues other works by Barry (Canada, anyone?), but the piece still came across as a bit of a one-trick pony, struggling hard to justify […]

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