Chilton on Pelléas

[karlhenning]

At the Lexington Avenue Opera House I recently listened to an alleged opera called Pelléas et Mélisande in which a modern 'composer' has tried to realize in sounds and scenes the Maeterlinck play of that name. . . Dramatic action there was none, while music was reduced to a weaker Wagnerian orchestral comment — one long succession of puffs and snippets of melody and color . . . the same ridiculous awe-inspiring growlings and gruntings of the cellos and basses, the sudden stops, the long holdings of the chalumeau tones that Wagner has made us familiar with.  The more inane the procedure of the music drama, the greater seemed the attention.  People leaned forward and held their breath so as not to miss anything! . . . This crowning masterpiece of civilized European stupidity and lack of humor was holding them in a vice. The fake really worked.

Carroll Brent Chilton is my kind of guy!

[Homo Aestheticus]

At the Lexington Avenue Opera House I recently listened to an alleged opera called Pelléas et Mélisande in which a modern 'composer' has tried to realize in sounds and scenes the Maeterlinck play of that name. . . Dramatic action there was none, while music was reduced to a weaker Wagnerian orchestral comment — one long succession of puffs and snippets of melody and color . . . the same ridiculous awe-inspiring growlings and gruntings of the cellos and basses, the sudden stops, the long holdings of the chalumeau tones that Wagner has made us familiar with.  The more inane the procedure of the music drama, the greater seemed the attention.  People leaned forward and held their breath so as not to miss anything! . . . This crowning masterpiece of civilized European stupidity and lack of humor was holding them in a vice. The fake really worked.

These are always fun to read!

Thanks.

[karlhenning]

Hugo Schlemüller in 1907:

Debussy has definitely discounted all melody.  In Pelléas et Mélisande, for three and a quarter hours, he lets us hear only chords.  And what chords!  Seventh-chords and ninth-chords, augmented triads and chords that consist of six different notes.  All of these close together, without any connection.  This results in false relations and parallel fifths in rich profusion.  The score resembles a curiosity shop of tangled harmonies, a gallery of harmonized abortions.  The music degenerates into noise, which makes a less disagreeable impression only because it falls on our ears in soft and discreet half fading tones.  Hair-raising difficulties are demanded from the singers.  The orchestra plays F sharp, A sharp, E, G, and the singer puts in a C.  Such examples are many.

[karlhenning]

These are always fun to read!

Yep; one man's "gentle revolution" is another man's "gallery of harmonized abortions."

Schlemüller might have written, how can any sensitive listener like this Debussy gibberish?

[Homo Aestheticus]

Hugo Schlemüller in 1907:

Debussy has definitely discounted all melody.  In Pelléas et Mélisande, for three and a quarter hours, he lets us hear only chords.  And what chords!  Seventh-chords and ninth-chords, augmented triads and chords that consist of six different notes.  All of these close together, without any connection.  This results in false relations and parallel fifths in rich profusion.  The score resembles a curiosity shop of tangled harmonies, a gallery of harmonized abortions.  The music degenerates into noise, which makes a less disagreeable impression only because it falls on our ears in soft and discreet half fading tones.  Hair-raising difficulties are demanded from the singers.  The orchestra plays F sharp, A sharp, E, G, and the singer puts in a C.  Such examples are many.

Wait, wait!... THIS is a major part of what makes  P&M  so ravishing...

 

[karlhenning]

Wait, wait!... THIS is a major part of what makes  P&M  so ravishing...

 

There you go;  and the things you don't care for in [name of any of a dozen composers you don't like], are for other listeners the whole point of the music.

[Hector]

Personally, I find the work a depressing listening experience.

I do not even own a recording because I know I will hardly ever play it.

That is not to say I do not recognise it as a supreme artistic achievement.

[karlhenning]

Personally, I find the work a depressing listening experience.

I do not even own a recording because I know I will hardly ever play it.

Most prudent! 

[Homo Aestheticus]

Hector,

Depressing, yes; I understand... The mood is often somber. But remember that there are 2 scenes that are especially full of light and at times innocent pleasure:

The third scene of Act I - 'A Room In The Castle' and the first scene of Act II - 'A Fountain In The Park'

:-)

[karlhenning]

Hector,

Depressing, yes; I understand... The mood is often somber. But remember that there are 2 scenes that are especially full of light and at times innocent pleasure . . . .

You speak as an enthusiast, who naïvely supposes that everyone must share his enthusiasm, Eric.  For a lot of listeners, even these two "light" scenes do not significantly mitigate the overall impression of swimming through molasses.

Hector:  I've got two recordings of Pelléas, but I haven't listened to either in . . . years.  It just makes me sleepy.

[scarpia]

Hector:  I've got two recordings of Pelléas, but I haven't listened to either in . . . years.  It just makes me sleepy.

Why so proud of your lack of discernment?

[karlhenning]

Why so proud of your lack of discernment?

Speaking of lack of discernment;  you don't read much, do you?  In my statement, there is no question regarding discernment (physically, it makes me drowsy), nor of pride (simple reportage).

Thanks for the laugh!

[karlhenning]

Anyway, I always took your tag (Più forte! Più forte!) as justified impatience with Pelléas.

(You're missing an accent on più, but only we discerning readers notice these things.)

[lisa needs braces]

Why so proud of your lack of discernment?

BURN!!

[karlhenning]

Nah; no doubt he's there with a box of matches and attitude.

Doesn't touch my cool.

[The Six]

Look at me I'm sarcastic and post a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[karlhenning]

Look at me I'm sarcastic and post a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not so much, really.  Give yourself time.

[greg]

F# A# E G C sounds somewhat Stravinskian to me, at least in isolation. Very close to his famous Petrushka chord.

[The Six]

Not so much, really.  Give yourself time.

Classic!!!!!!

[Kullervo]

Classic!!!!!!

You don't understand. With Karl's, as it is with my posts, the content is implied.