Quiz: Mystery scores

[karlhenning]

The term "pot-boiler" is used explicitly by Walsh (vol. 2, p. 131)

Thank you for pointing out that the (entirely righteous) indignation should in fact be directed to Walsh.  I am pleased, for I enjoyed his bio so well, I had started to feel the hint of a need for something (small, probably) to be displeased with in the book(s).

[lukeottevanger]

 

[lukeottevanger]

Any scores you want to post here, Karl?  0:) 0:) 0:)

(thought I'd badger you whilst you were hanging around!)

[(poco) Sforzando]

You tell him, Sforz!! 


though if the fact that the piece was written 'primarily to make money' is what makes it a pot-boiler, then there are an awful lot of pot-boilers amongst works we tend to think of as among the finest!

In a literary context, Dr. Johnson was quoted by Boswell to have said, "No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money" (though Boswell finds this a "strange opinion"). But the term "pot-boiler" implies something written both to make quick money and below one's artistic best. ("Minor," "throwaway.")

Hence Wellington's Victory and (maybe, since they display considerable artistry) all those folksong settings can be considered pot-boilers; the Missa Solemnis cannot - no matter how many publishers Beethoven offered it to.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Thank you for pointing out that the (entirely righteous) indignation should in fact be directed to Walsh.  I am pleased, for I enjoyed his bio so well, I had started to feel the hint of a need for something (small, probably) to be displeased with in the book(s).

How about his (apparently) somewhat vindictive treatment of Bob Craft?

[lukeottevanger]

So you're calling Wellington's Victory a pot-boiler now? Will you never learn? I'm telling Rod Corkin.... 

[(poco) Sforzando]

In partial penance, I will take along my Aleck Karis CD of Stravinsky's piano music to the office and listen to the 4-minute Tango 5 times on my 20-minute commute.

[(poco) Sforzando]

So you're calling Wellington's Victory a pot-boiler now? Will you never learn? I'm telling Rod Corkin.... 

No! no! he'll start posting scores of obscure Handel operas on this thread and will expect us to identify every secco recitative.

[lukeottevanger]

I suspect Rod's one of those who doesn't actually have any interest in scores, don't worry...

[karlhenning]

Any scores you want to post here, Karl?  0:) 0:) 0:)

(thought I'd badger you whilst you were hanging around!)

Hmm . . . .

[lukeottevanger]

Karl posts a score!!! 

[lukeottevanger]

Is it Henning?

[(poco) Sforzando]

I was going to ask the same - a brass quintet in 5/4 time. I say Henning.

[BachQ]

Is it Henning?

Henning.

[lukeottevanger]

I say it is nuptually purposed.

(That is, it seems to fit the description of a brass quintet movement from Karl's Wedding Music, most recent page of 'his' thread)

[karlhenning]

How about his (apparently) somewhat vindictive treatment of Bob Craft?

You hint at motivations to which I cannot answer.  I must admit that the portrait of Craft is not wholly admirable (where, admiring so much of Craft's professional work, I certainly wish that the portrait might be wholly admirable).  Do you feel that it is unfair?  There seems to me some question;  yet, I do not consider myself competent to form any opinion on the question at present.

[karlhenning]

I say it is nuptually purposed.

Dang, caught out again! 

[(poco) Sforzando]

You hint at motivations to which I cannot answer.  I must admit that the portrait of Craft is not wholly admirable (where, admiring so much of Craft's professional work, I certainly wish that the portrait might be wholly admirable).  Do you feel that it is unfair?  There seems to me some question;  yet, I do not consider myself competent to form any opinion on the question at present.

Motivation aside (and no, I can't answer that either), it does seem to be a very negative portrayal especially in the final years. I don't have time right now (got to get to work, and listen to that Tango 5 times), but I've had friends claim that wherever there are two versions of an event, Craft's and someone else's, Walsh almost invariably disbelieves Craft's.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Henning.

And when is Dm going to post any scores? (Hint: they do not all have to be in Dm.)

[karlhenning]

In partial penance, I will take along my Aleck Karis CD of Stravinsky's piano music to the office and listen to the 4-minute Tango 5 times on my 20-minute commute.

Well, if you ask me (and maybe you aren't), that is too much penance . . . .