Franco Donatoni (1927-2000)

[raduneo]

I spent some a little time with Berio and Scelsi, but so far the little exposure I have from youtube with Donatoni has really blown my mind!!

Ash, Lumen and especially Ave simply sound GREAT. Very modern, and yet (I feel) approachable, with lovely orchestral color! I find his music quite clear, it never tries to overload you with notes. (not that I necessarely dislike that).

It sounds like he isn't that well known, which is really sad! Incidentally, he also taught Salonen (one of my favorite contemporary composers). Coincidence? Hmmm...

EDIT: After a closer listen to Ash, I hear some similarities to Xenakis, and that is a good thing!

[snyprrr]

I spent some a little time with Berio and Scelsi, but so far the little exposure I have from youtube with Donatoni has really blown my mind!!

Ash, Lumen and especially Ave simply sound GREAT. Very modern, and yet (I feel) approachable, with lovely orchestral color! I find his music quite clear, it never tries to overload you with notes. (not that I necessarely dislike that).

It sounds like he isn't that well known, which is really sad! Incidentally, he also taught Salonen (one of my favorite contemporary composers). Coincidence? Hmmm...

EDIT: After a closer listen to Ash, I hear some similarities to Xenakis, and that is a good thing!

But he uses a lot of notes to make all the 'bubbles'. I see most of his cheerful music as bubbles on escalators, ot something. In a way, he's very simplistic, in that he likes to go 'up' and 'down' a lot, but, hey, this is music, .meaningles' notes (abstract to the core) that just sound full of like all by themselves.

I remember getting that Stradivarius disc back in the day, the one with Ash and Lumen (awesome cover back then, not the drab one used now). Donatoni is an instant hut that's for sure. Yes, more people here should like him, if they'd check out any one of his... well, those two pieces are good starters. Arpege.

Donatoni is fun to listen to.

[snyprrr]

Light years ahead of someone like Xenakis because

Stand and Deliver!!!

[raduneo]

Donatoni is a very brilliant and clever composer. Light years ahead of someone like Xenakis because his music has a fantastic inner life, it's more than just blobs or swarms of sound. It's richer, better-crafted and more refined. Recently I have been listening to some of his music .. few touch him in chamber formats, he had an ear & imagination there that was stellar .. but his larger pieces and pieces for percussion instruments that I have heard are equally as great. He certainly deserves to be better known, and there is a lot of uncharted territory there for future generations to traverse & explore.

That's quite a beautiful description you wrote there of Donatoni, James! You convinced me to spend more time listening to him in the near future!

I do feel that Xenakis is really good at a specific kind of music (but perhaps doesn't go further than that); specifically he is very good at describing chaos, the sounds of nature, but with almost no human element. (there is passion under the surface though I feel). When I say this, I am thinking of Shaar, Anemoessa (those howling voices really make an impression), some of his harpsichord works, his piano concertos, his string quartets, his percussion works, Metastasis, and especially Jonchaies!

I do have to agree though that Donatoni's music definitely has more inner life, and is often more imaginative. Donatoni's music, while quite modernist, has that human element that Xenakis often lacks. it's why I don't really enjoy Robert Simpson's music.

I do recall reading somewhere that you are like modern music quite a bit. What are in your opinion some of the greatest modern/contemporary composers?

[Mirror Image]

I do recall reading somewhere that you are like modern music quite a bit. What are in your opinion some of the greatest modern/contemporary composers?

I'm not James, but from what I've read, he likes Stockhausen (obviously), Boulez, Birtwistle, and Ligeti.

[Henk]

Donatoni is Da Bomb. I listened to his music some days ago, really impressed. It's not just fun, this is high level classical music. I am not on that level to appreciate this music fully, as I am with Sciarrino or Aperghis to my feeling. It will take years, decennia to get on that level, to appreciate it fully.

[snyprrr]

Donatoni is Da Bomb. I listened to his music some days ago, really impressed. It's not just fun, this is high level classical music. I am not on that level to appreciate this music fully, as I am with Sciarrino or Aperghis to my feeling. It will take years, decennia to get on that level, to appreciate it fully.

Try Harder!! Soon the world economy will collapse and you will have to concentrate on other things!

[snyprrr]

http://www.youtube.com/v/XPyiEo4uLw0

Ensemble Intercontemporain.
Director. Pierre Boulez

nice

[snyprrr]

I'm also considering that Strad disc with the guitar/ensemble pieces, very bouncy sounding samples.

Also, a new Donatoni recording, the solo cello along with... wait for it... wait... Bach.




Who has the Strad sic with 'Voci' and 'Proms'? How is that, say, compared to that YET OTHER Strad disc with 'Duo pour Bruno'? AAHHHH!! I'm on an Italian frenzy that's out to destroy by bank account!!!!!!

[snyprrr]

I'm also considering that Strad disc with the guitar/ensemble pieces, very bouncy sounding samples.

Just ordered, and yes, I had to post it!

[snyprrr]

Donatoni I can handle a little better than Maderna, but I do notice the same tendency to make this slightly uncomfortable on purpose.

[snyprrr]

Looking forward to this one ..

[asin]B00KTQLFUE[/asin]

[01] In Cauda II (1993/1994) 18:18
[02] In Cauda III (1996) 13:27
[03] Esa (In Cauda V) (2000) 10:33
[04] Prom (1999) 12:33
[05] Duo pour Bruno (1974/1975) 19:25
total time: 74:22

Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra
Yoichi Sugiyama conductor

(wipes drool from keyboard!)


Heym yeam wow! That almost wipes out those two $$$ Strad discs! What a great way to follow up that Maderna. Cool, awesome!! I was hoping sooomething good would come out this year (Ferneyhough/Arditti).

[snyprrr]

Can anyone confirm or deny the quality of the NEOS disc of 'Orchestral Works'?

I haven't cracked open Donatoni in quite some time, and I've got a quite sizable Discography.

[bwv 1080]

This is a great piece

https://www.youtube.com/v/VmlAHFgxy9c

[schnittkease]

so I'm late to the Donatoni party... this guy's amazing!

After binge-listening to Spiri, Ash, Arpège, and such, I've decided to buy a CD (or 2... or 3).

[snyprrr]

so I'm late to the Donatoni party... this guy's amazing!

After binge-listening to Spiri, Ash, Arpège, and such, I've decided to buy a CD (or 2... or 3).

get the Stradivarius with those works you listed, get that first...

Then maybe that NEOS disk...

I've got most of the main Donatoni discs... yea, he will get you a'collectin'

[Mirror Image]

How would you describe Donatoni's style?

[Mandryka]

How would you describe Donatoni's style?

Arrogant.

And like going on a walk - you hear this, then you hear that and now let's stroll this way, oh no, this is boring, let's try down there . . .


When you're in the mood it's a real tonic.

[schnittkease]

Arrogant.

And like going on a walk - you hear this, then you hear that and now let's stroll this way, oh no, this is boring, let's try down there . . .

Don't listen to him!

[Mandryka]

Interesting university thesis on him here

https://api.research-repository.uwa.edu.au/portalfiles/portal/80742963/THESIS_DOCTOR_OF_MUSICAL_ARTS_SMITH_Ashley_William_2020.pdf