Arutiunian

[guido]

I just played in the orchestra for the trumpet concerto - a fun enough piece, which often descends into sillyness, and the harmony contains every clichéed sentimentality you could wish to name - the overall effect is quite good though...

Anyway, I just happened to pick up his Poem for cello and orchestra in some ancient Soviet Press sheet music - doesn't appear to be recorded, nor is it even mentioned on his complete works list. Anyone heard this one?

Are any of his works more substantial than the trumpet concerto?

[Harry]

First of all, I am quite astounded why you write in such a negative way about this composer!
For me, he is quite a remarkable composer.
Anyway this is one of the cd's I have from him, and its pretty impressive.

[vandermolen]

Very pleased to see that Chandos CD.  I heard the trumpet concerto on the radio the other day and really enjoyed it.  I then went on line to see if there were many other works.  He seems to have written at least one symphony but amazon etc hardly lists anything other than the trumpet concerto.  Thanks for this thread.

[MrOsa]

I have a CD with his Violin Concerto and it didn't give me an urge to explore this composer further (it's very much like film music to my ears). I just stick to Khachaturian.

[pjme]

I agree. Katchaturian does pull all the stops in grand "style" at least. Last WE Arte showed a documentary on Boris Berezovsky, who spoke lovingly & glowingly of Aram's pianoconcerto. Not the most refined music perhaps, but the slow movement has a real gripping tune and the first movement is indeed "Maestoso".

[Harry]

I have a CD with his Violin Concerto and it didn't give me an urge to explore this composer further (it's very much like film music to my ears). I just stick to Khachaturian.

It really saddens me to hear that Maciek! I would kindly resent the definition of his music being "Filmmusic".
That is rather deforming the intention of his music.
You guessed already I think, that I love his music very much.
Limiting yourself to Khachaturian, is doing yourself a disservice I think.

[Harry]

I agree. Katchaturian does pull all the stops in grand "style" at least. Last WE Arte showed a documentary on Boris Berezovsky, who spoke lovingly & glowingly of Aram's pianoconcerto. Not the most refined music perhaps, but the slow movement has a real gripping tune and the first movement is indeed "Maestoso".

I am sorry my Belgian friend that you think the same.
Is grand style "pulling the stops"?
And does Arutiunian not pull stops?
O, well.

[MrOsa]

That is rather deforming the intention of his music.

It is indeed very possible that I just don't get his music. But I don't enjoy it very much (which does not mean I don't enjoy it at all) - I find it a bit oversimplified. That certainly does not mean that others wouldn't like it. And I meant nothing bad by comparing it to film music. I actually like film music! I was just trying to suggest some of the qualities I see here: using ready-made elements that I find (like Guido) somewhat clichéd. I'm not saying it's wrong to use them - it's just that I don't feel compelled to explore the world conjured by a composer who uses them in serious concert pieces.

You guessed already I think, that I love his music very much.

And I don't see anything wrong with that.

Limiting yourself to Khachaturian, is doing yourself a disservice I think.

Well, the remark about Khachaturian was not serious. I just wanted to suggest that what Arutiunian is doing has already been done (and done better, IMO).

You really needn't feel offended, Harry. You love this composer, I neither love nor hate him. It's nothing more than that. And we are probably both right too (though you've obviously heard more of his music).

Maybe one day I'll hear more from him and that will change my mind. But you of all people know best that there's a real lot of music out there to explore, so why should I start with a composer who hasn't convinced me?

Cheers,
Maciek

[Harry]

It is indeed very possible that I just don't get his music. But I don't enjoy it very much (which does not mean I don't enjoy it at all) - I find it a bit oversimplified. That certainly does not mean that others wouldn't like it. And I meant nothing bad by comparing it to film music. I actually like film music! I was just trying to suggest some of the qualities I see here: using ready-made elements that I find (like Guido) somewhat clichéd. I'm not saying it's wrong to use them - it's just that I don't feel compelled to explore the world conjured by a composer who uses them in serious concert pieces.

And I don't see anything wrong with that.

Well, the remark about Khachaturian was not serious. I just wanted to suggest that what Arutiunian is doing has already been done (and done better, IMO).

You really needn't feel offended, Harry. You love this composer, I neither love nor hate him. It's nothing more than that. And we are probably both right too (though you've obviously heard more of his music).

Maybe one day I'll hear more from him and that will change my mind. But you of all people know best that there's a real lot of music out there to explore, so why should I start with a composer who hasn't convinced me?

Cheers,
Maciek

After fifty years of living in this world I am not easely offended, so I was not in this case either.
And yes I heard quite a lot of this composer, so I tend to disagree with what you are saying about him.
That's all.

[MrOsa]

After fifty years of living in this world I am not easely offended, so I was not in this case either.

That's good to hear, my friend. I just wanted to be sure.

[guido]

I just played through some parts of the Poeme - what a piece! The opening is extremely dramatic for the cello - in its lowest register, booming like a Russian bass, with the low orchestral instruments muttering behind. A lot more clichéd chord changes and awkward shifts in harmony, but it seems this piece is a little more serious in intent than the trumpet concerto. Harry, I also don't mean that I dislike the music, but I agree that the music sounds simplistic and comical (which is not necessariy a bad thing), but if you know my general tastes I'm more into soul searching, deep, pained, difficult, pretentious stuff!