Pieces that are too long?

[dtwilbanks]

Did some composers need an editor? Could they have expressed what they were trying to say with fewer notes? Who was the best self-editor? The worst?

[Josquin des Prez]

Who was the best self-editor?

Webern. 

[dtwilbanks]

Webern. 

Of course.

[Lethevich]

Many Chopin pieces are also wonderfully concise, yet containing so much music.

[bwv 1080]

I always thought that Boulez had many pieces that could be 20% shorter

[Tsaraslondon]

Almost all Wagner's operas.

[BachQ]

Feldman SQ 1

[Harry]

Wagner, all his works need pruning, especially the Soprano/Mezzo parts.

[Norbeone]

There are a lot of works that are much too long, but a lot aren't great pieces to begin with. (to say the least)

However, one piece which I love quite a bit but find just a little too long-winded is Schoenberg's Verklaerte Nacht. Absolutely beautiful and intense string writing but sometimes I can hear myself muttering "ok Arnold, I get the point, but kindly shut the f*** up."       A Little harsh, but the sentiment is always there.

[Kullervo]

There are a lot of works that are much too long, but a lot aren't great pieces to begin with. (to say the least)

However, one piece which I love quite a bit but find just a little too long-winded is Schoenberg's Verklaerte Nacht. Absolutely beautiful and intense string writing but sometimes I can hear myself muttering "ok Arnold, I get the point, but kinda shut the f*** up."       A Little harsh, but the sentiment is always there.

Really? I wish it wouldn't end!

[hornteacher]

For some reason any slow movement from the Baroque period just seems to go on forever.

[Mark]

I've said it before, I'll say it again: Milhaud's 'Le Boeuf Sur Le Toit'. Version I own drags on for an age ... well, 19' 56", to be exact.

[dtwilbanks]

CDs were designed so that they could hold the LvB 9th on one disc.

Anything longer is a waste.

[Mark]

CDs were designed so that they could hold the LvB 9th on one disc.

Anything longer is a waste.

Careful. There be Mahlerites round these parts ...

[dtwilbanks]

Careful. There be Mahlerites round these parts ...

Oh, I *know* there are. 

[not edward]

I always thought that Boulez had many pieces that could be 20% shorter

Agreed. sur Incises, Derive 2 and Repons are all too long for their material, IMO. (I think this problem only surfaces in post-1970 Boulez, though.)

I think excessive length is a problem with a lot of new music in general....but that's probably a pre-separating-the-wheat-from-the-chaff thing.

FWIW, I think Mahler is perfectly concise.

[Mark]

FWIW, I think Mahler is perfectly concise.

Know that I was kidding, Edward, know that I was kidding.

[dtwilbanks]

Know that I was kidding, Edward, know that I was kidding.

Hey, if those Malhlerettes have time enough to sit around for longer than 80 minutes, more power to them.

[Mark]

Hey, if those Malhlerettes have time enough to sit around for longer than 80 minutes, more power to them.

It's sleep paralysis.

[DavidW]

Careful. There be Mahlerites round these parts ...

meow.