Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki (1933-2010)

[snyprrr]

I used to agree with that, and Woytowicz has a unique tone far more suited to the work than the rather anodyne Upshaw, but there is also a recording by Kasprzyk with Zofia Kilanowicz, also perfect in its way.
As to "Gorecki who?" - I assume you've heard the Lerchenmusik?

I thought he died? But, oh, that was three years ago. duuuh




Yea, I didn't like 'Lerchenmusik'.

Absolutely haaated the String Quartets. Infuriating, actually. Grating, grinding, Industrial Minimalism drives me up a wall.

Anyhoo... if ya can't say something nice....... I'll stop!!

[mjwal]

I thought he died? But, oh, that was three years ago. duuuh

Yea, I didn't like 'Lerchenmusik'.

Absolutely haaated the String Quartets. Infuriating, actually. Grating, grinding, Industrial Minimalism drives me up a wall.

Anyhoo... if ya can't say something nice....... I'll stop!!

Huh? Did I say something NOT NICE? I mean, I do like the Lerchenmusik, without placing it anywhere near the top of my list of preferred 20th C works. I was just asking...Nor is "Industrial Minimalism" one of my preferred flavours, by the way.

[snyprrr]

I have to say that from the first time I heard the opening canon of Gorecki's 3rd I fell in love with the music. It's popularity is justified, and it's great that modern music can gain respect by not only the classical players and aficionados, but the public at large. It will remain popular as well. As a composer, I really developed a disdain for the postwar European avant-guard. It seemed like the only viable music in eastern Europe had to employ extended techniques, be totally non-melodic and full of new "sounds." As Milton Babbit once said, "nothing gets old faster than a new sound." Babbit and his cohorts were at war (in terms of compositional style) with all of those experimentalists, and both sides lost. It kills me to think that when I was in grad school trying to invent new serial techniques and sonic entities no one was very eager to hear, Gorecki had already composed the Third Symphony. He was able to show off his marvelous gift for diatonic, lyrical music. So many people on the outside consider serial and avant guard music to cloud the distinction between the untalented and talented. That, I believe is why composers of Ligeti's, Penderecki's and Gorecki's generation developed from student serialists, to composers of arcane music and finally to music seemingly inspired as much by Mahler's as by Webern or Cage. Many of the post 1960 generation are choosing the more romantic (for lack of a better word) sound. It's not lightweight. It's just that the serial/chance, etc. music is overweight with esoterica. I like Babbit's "All Set" as well as "Atmospheres" and "Threnody," but it's kind of like the jazz of Cecil Taylor: where does he go from there? And the non-musician might ask whether of not he can play a competent version of "Misty." The non-musician doesn't understand the history of each composer's music. How many times have we heard "I could write that" after an orchestra plays a modern work? Sorry, I had a teacher who snared at Britten, Copland or Hindemith. Boulez and Babbit was what he taught. In the 1990s?!

You might want to break into paragraphs!!


Cecil Taylor's a bit sloppy, doncha think? Compared to 'Composed' chaos,... actually, you bring up an interesting point, but I'm just not eager to blah blah, bookmarked...

Huh? Did I say something NOT NICE?

No, I was being a dik!!

[vandermolen]

I agree - the fact that the Third Symphony is popular should not be held against it! The truth is it's one of the most emotional, powerful works of music of the last 75 years, and it speaks to thousands and thousands of people. It's an amazing work - my favorite part by the way is the looong closing of the first movement! 

I have heard Wit/PNRSO/PRNSO/any other acronyms for that orchestra - what gripping music!
Thanks for the post - more Gorecki is needed in my diet. 

Totally agree.

[not edward]

Totally agree.

I'm probably the Gorecki outlier here: I don't like the Third Symphony and it actually put me off exploring Gorecki for a while, until I heard Lerchenmusik and decided this was a composer I really did want to investigate in depth.

[Octave]

Is there a go-to recording of the Lerchenmusik?  I did a keyword search in this thread but did not see a specific recording mentioned.

[AnthonyAthletic]

.
[asin]B000005J0R[/asin]
Lerchenmusik

I don't know the music myself, but found this version on Amazon, coupled with the quartet no.1 'Already its Dusk'.  Nonesuch label 1991 (as per the famous Zinman 3rd)...any others?

[AnthonyAthletic]

Spotted this version of Lerchenmusik, .....ordered   

[Brian]

This April the London Philharmonic is giving the world premiere performance of Symphony No. 4. Andrey Boreyko will conduct.

[not edward]

This April the London Philharmonic is giving the world premiere performance of Symphony No. 4. Andrey Boreyko will conduct.

Interesting. Did he actually finish the work, or was it left incomplete as obituaries suggested?

[Brahmsian]

This April the London Philharmonic is giving the world premiere performance of Symphony No. 4. Andrey Boreyko will conduct.

He was our previous conductor (Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra).

He came back to visit Winnipeg (3 years ago I think), to conduct a fantastic all Russian program:

Prokofiev's 2nd violin concerto (I think)
Rimsky's Russian Easter Overture
Shostakovich's 10th symphony.

[Brian]

Interesting. Did he actually finish the work, or was it left incomplete as obituaries suggested?

The publisher never received the manuscript, which stayed with the family. Gorecki was a perfectionist who held on to scores for years revising and retouching them, so it may be "finished" in the sense of a complete draft, but not in the sense of what he wanted us to hear. The LPO isn't being specific, though, and their website just says it's the premiere and buy tickets and all that.

[not edward]

The publisher never received the manuscript, which stayed with the family. Gorecki was a perfectionist who held on to scores for years revising and retouching them, so it may be "finished" in the sense of a complete draft, but not in the sense of what he wanted us to hear. The LPO isn't being specific, though, and their website just says it's the premiere and buy tickets and all that.

I guess we'll find out in time. Hopefully it's worth the wait.

[Maciek]

Wasn't it premiered last week (in London, IIRC)? Has anyone heard it?

I understand it was orchestrated(?) by the composer's son, Mikolaj Gorecki, based on the material that was left by the father, Henryk Mikolaj Gorecki.

Oh, and since I mentioned this in the Lutoslawski thread, I guess it's only fair to cross-post it here:

NInA's Three composers site (don't think it has been mentioned on this thread)

http://threecomposers.pl/

has a selection of recordings to listen to on-line (hover over the name "Górecki" and select "music" to get to the list).

[not edward]

Video of the world premiere: http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/video/2014/apr/14/philharmonic-orchaestra-video

I can't say that I was overly impressed on a first listening: much of it is a less focused retread of ideas better executed in Kleines Requiem fur eine Polka.

[lescamil]

Video of the world premiere: http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/video/2014/apr/14/philharmonic-orchaestra-video

I can't say that I was overly impressed on a first listening: much of it is a less focused retread of ideas better executed in Kleines Requiem fur eine Polka.

That's exactly what I thought when I perused the score. I haven't listened to it yet, though.

Here is a direct link for anyone that wants to download it: http://cdn.theguardian.tv/mainwebsite/2014/04/14/140411Philharmonic-16x9.mp4

[Maciek]

Video of the world premiere: http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/video/2014/apr/14/philharmonic-orchaestra-video

Thanks very much for the link, edward, I wasn't aware of it being available this way.

[Drasko]

What's currently considered best, or everyone's favorite, recording of 3rd Symphony? I've never heard the piece, would like to try. 

[Mirror Image]

What's currently considered best, or everyone's favorite, recording of 3rd Symphony? I've never heard the piece, would like to try.

Upshaw/Zinman/St. Luke's. The end.

[Christo]

If you prefer a less polished / more Polish  / reading, Antoni Wit's version for Naxos with soprano Zofia Kilanowicz is another great choice: