Newbies' Blush List Dozen

Started by Rosalba, August 19, 2017, 07:27:22 AM

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Pat B

Quote from: Rosalba on September 07, 2017, 09:59:01 AM
I had never before heard The Rite of Spring. I am not sure (totally) whether I like it, but it is arresting - impressive - stunningly original - though why they rioted, I still can't imagine. Maybe the suggestiveness of the dancing, maybe something febrile in the atmosphere, maybe just a good excuse for a rammy.

Supposedly it was the unconventional choreography more than the music.

To me, the music initially seemed sort of cacophonous. You may have liked it more than I did at first. But it grew on me in a big way, so you may want to give it a few more spins, as the mood strikes.

Glad to see your continuing reports!

Rosalba

Thank you, Mirror Image & Pat B. :)

Mirror Image


Rosalba

#63
Quote from: α | ì Æ ñ on August 20, 2017, 12:51:51 AM
Off the top of my head, these are essential works that haven't been mentioned yet:

Webern - Symphony op 21
Bartok - Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta
Stravinsky - Agon
Varese - Ameriques
Stockhausen - Gruppen
Xenakis - Jonchaies
Ligeti - Atmospheres
Penderecki - Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima


Hope you enjoy them, it provides a great contrast to many of the examples cited thus far too  8)

'Great contrast' - absolutely right!
Thanks for suggesting this list, α | ì Æ ñ.
It was very interesting to listen, and I'm glad to have done so, but to be honest, this sort of music turns out not to be my cup of tea.

I enjoyed and quite liked the Webern - was bored by the Bartok - could hardly stand listening to the Stockhausen :) - and admired the clever artistry of the Xenakis, Ligeti and Penderecki, but didn't enjoy the uneasiness they induced in me.

It all helps to give me a 'mind-map' of classical music - where it's been, and where it's going. Thanks again!

nodogen

One of the great things about "classical" is that often composers write very different kinds of works (often over a life's changes in outlook). For example the unease of that Ligeti piece....listen to this short piece by Ligeti, it's a hoot!

https://youtu.be/txMWXvD8kL4

Of course, this means one might need to check out several pieces by a composer!!

Rosalba

Quote from: nodogen on September 13, 2017, 01:00:08 AM
One of the great things about "classical" is that often composers write very different kinds of works (often over a life's changes in outlook). For example the unease of that Ligeti piece....listen to this short piece by Ligeti, it's a hoot!

Of course, this means one might need to check out several pieces by a composer!!

You are right, of course. :)
I have just listened to Ligeti's Six Bagatelles (once I'd found it!!!) and this piece was playful and exuberant in a way that I found much more 'up my street'.
Thank you, nodogen.


nodogen

Quote from: Rosalba on September 13, 2017, 01:37:55 AM
You are right, of course. :)
I have just listened to Ligeti's Six Bagatelles, and they were playful and exuberant in a way that I found much more 'up my street'.
Thank you, nodogen.

You're welcome 😊

Nobody is going to be humming Threnody in the shower are they? (Well, alien might) 🙃

Karl Henning

Quote from: Rosalba on September 13, 2017, 12:38:51 AM
- was bored by the Bartok -

Aiyee!  It grieves my soul when someone finds Bartók boring!  (I am not angry, Rosalba, only hurt  8) )

I wanted to find a video of someone playing, but I found either the performance boring, or the performer too . . . showy.  So, this is just a performance which I like very well (and the score passing by . . . .)

http://www.youtube.com/v/lpIlo8tGbSo
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

North Star

Another Bartók 101 suggestion: the Rhapsodies.

https://www.youtube.com/v/KuGjucuowho

https://www.youtube.com/v/0rn0iC60j-0


And, dammit, I can't imagine anyone not enjoying the Romanian Folk Dances.
https://www.youtube.com/v/Wk7QAQEw4ZI
"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it." - Confucius

My photographs on Flickr

Rosalba

Quote from: k a rl h e nn i ng on September 13, 2017, 03:23:09 AM
Aiyee!  It grieves my soul when someone finds Bartók boring!  (I am not angry, Rosalba, only hurt  8) )

I wanted to find a video of someone playing, but I found either the performance boring, or the performer too . . . showy.  So, this is just a performance which I like very well (and the score passing by . . . .)

Oh sorry!
Of course, I didn't mean that I found the whole of Bartok boring, just that particular one ('Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta').

I thought that it would be better & more interesting for you knowledgeable lot if a Newby gave their honest opinion, that's all. :)

I am listening to the one you posted, Piano Sonata, Sz. 80, at the moment, and I like it - certainly not boring.

Aha - I see some fresh Bartok has arrived while I've been posting - thanks, North Star!
Will a subscription to the Bartok Fan Club Annual Ball repair the damage? 8)



Karl Henning

Quote from: Rosalba on September 13, 2017, 04:26:00 AM
Oh sorry!
Of course, I didn't mean that I found the whole of Bartok boring, just that particular one ('Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta').

I thought that it would be better & more interesting for you knowledgeable lot if a Newby gave their honest opinion, that's all. :)

Of course!  and I was not really sore.  I know that a piece which you find boring today, you may listen to it again 10 years later, and you may find you love it.  Doth not the appetite alter?
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

nodogen

Quote from: Rosalba on September 13, 2017, 04:26:00 AM

I thought that it would be better & more interesting for you knowledgeable lot if a Newby gave their honest opinion, that's all. :)


Of course! Your opinion is as "valid" as anyone else's IMO, whatever one's knowledge level. My level is still on the ground floor of the knowledge building, and once I reach the revolving restaurant at the top I will still hate opera. 😈

Karl Henning

Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

Rosalba

Sorry I've not been on for a while - I've had some personal issues. I hope to get back to listening to your recommendations later this year.
Hope you're all getting on well. xx

Karl Henning

Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

steve ridgway

So an avant garde composer in the course of their education would have to work through all this music from hundreds of years previously; analyse, compose and play in those styles - and to make it all the way through to a professional qualification would presumably have to like a fair bit of it?

Karl Henning

Quote from: 2dogs on September 04, 2018, 09:28:38 PM
So an avant garde composer in the course of their education would have to work through all this music from hundreds of years previously; analyse, compose and play in those styles - and to make it all the way through to a professional qualification would presumably have to like a fair bit of it?

Consider my response speculative (that is, I am not in a position to answer with authority).

I don't know that he would be compelled to like any of it.  In my experience, a good of semi-involuntary affection buds just through the experience.

But, it has certainly been the traditional view, that a professional awareness of the musical past is a precondition for doing one's work, today.

Is it an absolute?  Probably not.  There are fewer artistic absolutes, in reality, than my teachers were wont to claim.
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot

steve ridgway

Thanks Karl, it's good to get a reply from someone who's been through the educational system. It does make sense to build on what's been done in the past and I suppose there would be at least an academic interest in studying the structure of different pieces of music.

Daverz

#78
All you need to know :D

https://www.youtube.com/v/TP9u_7eSlTQ

I took a music appreciation course so long ago that the text came with LPs.  I thoroughly enjoyed the course.  The text was Music, An Appreciation, and there are lots of old editions of this or similar books around.  Add a subscription to Spotify and you have access to any music in reasonable fidelity.  Or just search Youtube.

Karl Henning

Quote from: Daverz on September 05, 2018, 09:29:35 AM
All you need to know :D

https://www.youtube.com/v/TP9u_7eSlTQ

I remember those commercials!  I generally saw them in the station breaks for Jeopardy!
Karl Henning, Ph.D.
Composer & Clarinetist
Boston MA
http://www.karlhenning.com/
[Matisse] was interested neither in fending off opposition,
nor in competing for the favor of wayward friends.
His only competition was with himself. — Françoise Gilot