Topic: Ferneyhough's Plough

[Mandryka]

I like performances in which the accumulated psychic and physical momentum of successively confronting lengthy spans of material lends the interpretation an unearthly radiance -- the performers themselves are changing before our very eyes . . . there are times when I have been prepared to accept the relative imprecision of a live performance as a means to ensuring its presence. . . I have always rejected the idea of notation being a lifeless tool for getting down sounds on paper. It's a much more complex and active relationship than that.

In the latter part he's referring to pitch indeterminacy in Transit.

[millionrainbows]

Or maybe he's referring to the "unplayability factor" as an integral part of the composer's intent, which totally vindicates Cage. It's kinda like when you purposely do something wrong to a device, to see what effect you get.

[bwv 1080]

Or maybe he's referring to the "unplayability factor" as an integral part of the composer's intent, which totally vindicates Cage. It's kinda like when you purposely do something wrong to a device, to see what effect you get.

there is nothing in BF's rhythms that is wrong - all the subdivisions add correctly.  You see things in his guitar piece Kurze Schatten II (of which I have played the 1st movement) like a harmonic held over a couple of measures  and then terminating to a rest within a 33:28 ->5:4 nested tuplet within a bar of 7/16.  The note wont sustain this long so it would not matter one way or another if the rhythm is played precisely, however it is playable as the start of the rest coincides with a harmonic struck on another string at the same point in time.  I do believe that BF's precise rhythmic notation gets a different performance than Cage's indeterminate writing.

[Mandryka]

The second part of the quote, about indeterminacy, I shouldn't have included it probably, was in a separate paragraph devoted to a part of Transit where the notation deliberately leaves the pitch to the performers to improvise.

Cage wrote "impossible" music to show that the impossible is not impossible.  It's not quite the same as BF.

(Re Cage, I've just noticed that there are no dynamic indications in the piano etudes but loads of them in the Freeman etudes, I don't understand why.) 

[bwv 1080]

A little known piece from 1980

<a href="https://youtu.be/ScxXYjgf3PU" target="_blank" class="new_win">https://youtu.be/ScxXYjgf3PU</a>

[North Star]

A little known piece from 1980

<a href="https://youtube.com/v/ScxXYjgf3PU" target="_blank" class="new_win">https://youtube.com/v/ScxXYjgf3PU</a>

Groovy!

[snyprrr]

I just tried to listen through all of Ferneyhough's Music for Flute (Bridge), and, whew, just couldn't do it all, so concentrated and intense, a Symphony for solo instrument... whew, again, ...

And, it's hard to tell exactly what the differences are in terms of certain gestures which are his stock in trade. There are evocative moments, with a lot of intense movement.

ANY FANS?

[wolftone]

I really like Mnemosyne. I remember being attracted to Cassandra's Dream Song every time I listened, but don't remember much afterwards. This does not occur to me with other works of his. Maybe I just did not focus as much.

[North Star]

I just tried to listen through all of Ferneyhough's Music for Flute (Bridge), and, whew, just couldn't do it all, so concentrated and intense, a Symphony for solo instrument... whew, again, ...

And, it's hard to tell exactly what the differences are in terms of certain gestures which are his stock in trade. There are evocative moments, with a lot of intense movement.

ANY FANS?

I know this may sound CRAAZYYY!!!! but maybe you don't need to listen to it all in one go...

[snyprrr]

I know this may sound CRAAZYYY!!!! but maybe you don't need to listen to it all in one go...

Yea, not recommended!!

Flute Music (or... Music for Flute ) I need to ta ::)ke in doses. I think I realize now why most flute recitals don't go pass the 50min. mark, it'sjust too much (and makes one understa ::)nd Mozart bet ::)e ::)r!!lol)


I mean, I did sort of like each piece, but, yea, not all at once.

I really like Mnemosyne. I remember being attracted to Cassandra's Dream Song every time I listened, but don't remember much afterwards. This does not occur to me with other works of his. Maybe I just did not focus as much.

Yes, at least it has more stuff going on, like a chamber music piece,... not that all these pieces don't seem to have an orchestral palate



Still, quite a grueling wxperience,whew

[bwv 1080]

Superscripto is an amazing piece - how many composers could write a compelling solo piccolo work?

[Mirror Image]

Superscript is an amazing piece - how many composers could write a compelling solo piccolo work?

Not really a question of who but really of why?

[snyprrr]

Superscripto is an amazing piece - how many composers could write a compelling solo piccolo work?

It does illuminate some of his techniques, since, I'm guessing, the piccolo is a little more limited than the flute, necessitating a reliance of stock gestures? I did applaud his ingenuity, but, even at such a short duration, I felt that even Ferneyhough might have been asking himself, "Why?". Of all the pieces on that album, that would be the one that would get listened to a couple of times and then moved on from. In terms of that album it didn't seem that amazing, but, yes, whoomp, there it is! in all its piccolo glory-

I probably liked it better than I led on-


I do like 'Funerailles' a lot (Erato), ...

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

It does illuminate some of his techniques, since, I'm guessing, the piccolo is a little more limited than the flute, necessitating a reliance of stock gestures? I did applaud his ingenuity, but, even at such a short duration, I felt that even Ferneyhough might have been asking himself, "Why?". Of all the pieces on that album, that would be the one that would get listened to a couple of times and then moved on from. In terms of that album it didn't seem that amazing, but, yes, whoomp, there it is! in all its piccolo glory-

I probably liked it better than I led on-


I do like 'Funerailles' a lot (Erato), ...

Erato release of the EIC/Boulez recording? That's really good.

Also, it is a bit odd to come across a solo piccolo work, considering they are played by flautists anyway. The only reason I can imagine anyone writing one is if a friend asked specifically for one.

[wolftone]

I do like 'Funerailles' a lot (Erato), ...

I really like the Stradivarius recording with the Arditti and ensemble recherche. Probably one of my favorite Ferneyhough records alongside 'Chamber Music' on Metier, which has Flurries, Incipits, and others. I wonder how the Stradivarius recording compares with the Erato one.

[snyprrr]

I really like the Stradivarius recording with the Arditti and ensemble recherche. Probably one of my favorite Ferneyhough records alongside 'Chamber Music' on Metier, which has Flurries, Incipits, and others. I wonder how the Stradivarius recording compares with the Erato one.

I seem to recall liking the Erato better, but I may be confusing pieces...  maybe it's the acoustic is better?...

Erato release of the EIC/Boulez recording? That's really good.

Also, it is a bit odd to come across a solo piccolo work, considering they are played by flautists anyway. The only reason I can imagine anyone writing one is if a friend asked specifically for one.

Erato, yes... such a great recital of works! I just call it Ferneyhough's Harp Concerto!

[Mandryka]

I’ve only just noticed that this was released in March this year. I’m listening to Plötzlichkeit now and it’s very impressive indeed. Good to hear it with such good sound, it’s what it needs really.