'blood on the floor'

[uffeviking]

Got your attention, did I? If I would have titled the thread 'Mark-Anthony Turnage' would you have clicked on it? Probably only if you were familiar with his other work, the Three Screaming Popes, or maybe even the brilliant 'Greek.

'blood on the floor' I think is his most 'jazzy' work, a 9-part suite for three jazz soloists and chamber orchestra. It's the three jazz soloists being dominant even over such an esteemed group of musicians as the Ensemble Modern. John Scofield with his electric guitar, Peter Erskine with the drum kit and Martin Robertson, the saxophonist and bass clarinetist. - Diegobueno: that Turnage work is for you, thought of you all the time and every time Robertson was featured! -

Let's face it, I know as much about jazz as I know about algebra, but I was fascinated by this composition; so much so that I decided to have a more intense look into this musical element called Jazz. - If I find the time! - Electric guitar to me was the instrument punk kids in torn jeans and shaved heads are pretending to know how to play. Schofield made me rethink! He is the soloist in the Elegy for Andy suite and with the simple, plain notes Turnage wrote in memory of his younger brother, Schofield gave me a heart-breaking musical experience.

Everyone of those nine suites has it's special meaning expertly expressed by the Ensemble Modern conducted by Peter Rundel and the very special solo parts by the three American guests. Peter Erskine brought the audience to their feet with his artistry in the encore 'Protocol, a work composed by Scofield and arranged by Turnage.

If you want to have different look - or even listening - to classical music in a different form, I recommend you explore this DVD. Great camera work too!

[edward]

It's an interesting piece that I should revisit...it struck me as one of the more successful jazz-classical crossover attempts, at least when I heard it live (was less impressed with listening to it at home on CD, though).

I guess its title has gone all lower-case for the DVD version: when was it recorded?

[uffeviking]

It was my first acquaintance with this Turnage work, as a DVD, had not heard it as CD, maybe that's the reason for being so moved by it. The booklet with the ArtHaus DVD says it is a production of Hessischer Rundfunk and RM Arts 1996, but it does not mention the venue. From what I saw, it was a house filled to the rafters, almost the size of a regular opera house or symphony hall.

Lots of footage for the closing section, Turnage being called on stage by the conductor and hugs and kisses and bows for a long time! The DVD also has a very good introduction interview with the composer and some explanations of the work.

[Hector]

The answer is 'yes.'

Didn't he write 'Greek' about druggy, violent skinheads or have I confused him with somebody else?

He tends to mix in everything, particularly Rock and Pop but whether he does this aesthetically or to garner an audience is difficult for me to judge.

I find him inconsistent, Three Screaming Popes being an exception and I recommend it to anyone wanting an intro' into his music.

I've not heard anything from him in recent years that has been anything more than of passing interest. Knussen, Ades and Benjamin are more interesting.

[Grazioso]

Let's face it, I know as much about jazz as I know about algebra, but I was fascinated by this composition; so much so that I decided to have a more intense look into this musical element called Jazz. - If I find the time! - Electric guitar to me was the instrument punk kids in torn jeans and shaved heads are pretending to know how to play. Schofield made me rethink! He is the soloist in the Elegy for Andy suite and with the simple, plain notes Turnage wrote in memory of his younger brother, Schofield gave me a heart-breaking musical experience.

Jazz is rich, sophisticated music fully worth investigating. Like classical music, its depth and breadth can support a lifetime of listening, studying, and collecting. It's had more than its share of great guitarists: Scofield, McLaughlin, Metheny, Pass, Christian, Reinhardt, Montgomery, Burrell, Green, Hall, Kessell, etc. Needless to say, their theoretical knowledge and technical mastery--let alone their artistry--utterly dwarfs those punk kids you mention

Btw, another vote for Turnage's Three Screaming Popes.

[facehugger]

i'm guessing the screaming popes is based on the francis bacon thingy? this has piqued my interest


that'd make a killer avatar

[uffeviking]

This is one view of Francis Bacon's 'Three Screaming Popes, which Turnage used for his work of the same name:

[uffeviking]

And this one work by Heather Betts used by Turnage for part of his 'blood on the floor. I don't know if he had this particular painting in mind though.

[diegobueno]

The only Turnage I've heard is a piece called No Let Up, which is a pretty accurate description of its contents. I enjoyed it a lot.

[uffeviking]

Many long sections featuring the bass clarinet, diegobueno, you'd enjoy this one, I know! Of course Robertson is thrilling on the sax too! Don't you have a birthday coming up? 

[diegobueno]

Lis,

My birthday is past. I've now reached the ancient age of 53.