Communication: a vital essence of music

[EigenUser]

I think if you were to go back and review my posts you would discover that I don't really do that very often.  I usually post a music clip and snip some background information on the composer from somewhere and hope that people just listen to the music.  It my opinion that music should stand on its own.

... and THANK YOU!!! One of my recent musical obsessions has been Maurice Ohana's cello concerto "In Dark and Blue" that you posted a while back. That piece was right up my alley -- modern, but relatively conservative. I can't wait to return to my university this Fall so I can get the score from inter-library loan.

[Mirror Image]

... and THANK YOU!!! One of my recent musical obsessions has been Maurice Ohana's cello concerto "In Dark and Blue" that you posted a while back. That piece was right up my alley -- modern, but relatively conservative. I can't wait to return to my university this Fall so I can get the score from inter-library loan.

Modern, but conservative. Sounds like you're just the kind of listener Barber needs. (Hint: listen to his Cello Concerto)

[Ken B]

... and THANK YOU!!! One of my recent musical obsessions has been Maurice Ohana's cello concerto "In Dark and Blue" that you posted a while back. That piece was right up my alley -- modern, but relatively conservative. I can't wait to return to my university this Fall so I can get the score from inter-library loan.

Not just Barber, also Sallinen

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[Mirror Image]

Not just Barber, also Sallinen

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I need to give that Sallinen set a fresh listen. His music didn't do much for me on first-hearing.

[Ken B]

Not just Barber, also Sallinen

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So we've got two good names of conservative modern for Nate

Barber
Sallinen

Others?
Robert Simpson
Some of the yanks: Piston for sure, Diamond, Lou Harrison. Tubin. Holmboe.  I can think of others but they are older, like Roussel.

[Mirror Image]

So we've got two good names of conservative modern for Nate

Barber
Sallinen

Others?
Robert Simpson
Some of the yanks: Piston for sure, Diamond, Lou Harrison. Tubin. Holmboe.  I can think of others but they are older, like Roussel.

Britten of course. Early Tippett.

[DavidW]

Not Piston or Diamond, they might not be avant garde but they are not as conservative as the others mentioned.  How about Rautavaara, Bax, Alwyn to add to the list.

[Mirror Image]

Not Piston or Diamond, they might not be avant garde but they are not as conservative as the others mentioned.  How about Rautavaara, Bax, Alwyn to add to the list.

If that's the case then Barber isn't a conservative either. Often the case with Barber is his music cloaked in a Romantic lyricism but the mechanics behind that lyricism is as modern as anyone composing at the time. It's just in Barber's case he chose not to be aligned with any stylistic school.

[Ken B]

Not Piston or Diamond, they might not be avant garde but they are not as conservative as the others mentioned.  How about Rautavaara, Bax, Alwyn to add to the list.

?
Certainly Piston and Diamond.
Walton. All the ones you mentioned. Rawsthorne.

[EigenUser]

?
Certainly Piston and Diamond.
Walton. All the ones you mentioned. Rawsthorne.

I played Diamond's "Rounds" in high school which I loved. Really an entertaining piece to play. I remember hearing a symphony (forgot which) and finding it kind of dark (especially compared to the sunny "Rounds"), but I'll try him again.

[Ken B]

I played Diamond's "Rounds" in high school which I loved. Really an entertaining piece to play. I remember hearing a symphony (forgot which) and finding it kind of dark (especially compared to the sunny "Rounds"), but I'll try him again.

You're a violinist. Piston's VCs are excellent.

[EigenUser]

You're a violinist. Piston's VCs are excellent.

Woah! I'm just a minute into No. 1, but I'm sold! This is outstanding! Thanks!

Lots of fourths! My favorite interval, especially when stacked (hence why I love Bartok).

[Mirror Image]

?
Certainly Piston and Diamond.
Walton. All the ones you mentioned. Rawsthorne.

Yes, yes, yes, and another yes. All of these composers wrote in a modern conservative style.

[EigenUser]

Here is an example of something that I don't like. I find it interesting -- fascinating, even -- but it doesn't "sound good" to my ears.
http://www.youtube.com/v/m5a2RXA2Jn8

[Ken B]

Here is an example of something that I don't like. I find it interesting -- fascinating, even -- but it doesn't "sound good" to my ears.
http://www.youtube.com/v/m5a2RXA2Jn8

I want that 2 minutes of my life back.
Who?

[EigenUser]

I want that 2 minutes of my life back.
Who?

Yeah, not easy. You haven't heard of George Crumb? An interesting figure in American music (still alive). For me, he's in the same boat as Stockhausen. Fascinating ideas, yet no personal musical connection (and occasionally physically unpleasant to hear, as is the case here). This piece "Black Angels" was composed in response to the Vietnam War ("Black Angels" is some kind of air force reference to the planes used or something, I forgot).

If it were being performed nearby, I wouldn't hesitate to see it for the sheer spectacle. But, it's nothing you'll ever find on my iPhone.

[Mirror Image]

Here is an example of something that I don't like. I find it interesting -- fascinating, even -- but it doesn't "sound good" to my ears.
http://www.youtube.com/v/m5a2RXA2Jn8

George Crumb is an interesting composer. Black Angels is one of those experimental American works that has failed to capture my imagination, but this could be said of several other works I've heard of Crumb's. Just give me some Lutoslawski, Ligeti, or Kurtag already.

[Ken B]

Yeah, not easy. You haven't heard of George Crumb? An interesting figure in American music (still alive). For me, he's in the same boat as Stockhausen. Fascinating ideas, yet no personal musical connection (and occasionally physically unpleasant to hear, as is the case here). This piece "Black Angels" was composed in response to the Vietnam War ("Black Angels" is some kind of air force reference to the planes used or something, I forgot).

If it were being performed nearby, I wouldn't hesitate to see it for the sheer spectacle. But, it's nothing you'll ever find on my iPhone.

Yes heard of Crumb, heard some Crumb. Happily not enough to recognize the piece!

[EigenUser]

George Crumb is an interesting composer. Black Angels is one of those experimental American works that has failed to capture my imagination, but this could be said of several other works I've heard of Crumb's. Just give me some Lutoslawski, Ligeti, or Kurtag already.

Word.

Yes heard of Crumb, heard some Crumb. Happily not enough to recognize the piece!

[DavidW]

Here is an example of something that I don't like. I find it interesting -- fascinating, even -- but it doesn't "sound good" to my ears.

I love Black Angels!