GMG Classical Music Forum

The Music Room => Composer Discussion => Topic started by: snyprrr on February 03, 2012, 01:24:52 PM

Title: Hans-Joachim Hespos
Post by: snyprrr on February 03, 2012, 01:24:52 PM
Honestly, does this guy make Lachenmann seem like a walk in the park?

http://www.hespos.info/index.php?navi=content&id_area=1&level=1&npoint=105,0,0,0,0,0

I was turned onto Hespos from an Amazon review by 'ginz' of the 'Solo Works 69-96' cd. Somehow, I was able to penetrate ginz's...uh...sentences(!) and gathered I'd be in for a noisy afternoon with Hespos. Also, pieces like this on YT add to the idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGmP_TSP8TQ


I happened upon a second CPO release of ensemble works (not available on US Amazon) which I heard first, and WOW!, if 'petrarch' or 'someguy' haven't heard this stuff, haha, you are in for a treat! Hespos is truly on the fringe, making Lachenmann seem like a late bloomer. His 'piano' piece Z features a whoooole lot more than JUST a piano, and is a literal riot including electric guitar (very cool!).

The 'Solo' disc includes pieces for harp, cymbalon, and guitar, amongst other instruments, and it is interesting to see what he does. The guitar piece is certainly more entertaining than the Scelsi piece (I'm not saying Hespos's is as limited), and truly, for every instrument considered, Hespos has a lot of interesting thinhs to say. Perhaps the bass clarinet piece was the only one that I thought could have been a little more.

CPO also has what I expect is a bigger work, in 'Tightrope Dance', which is cheap enough to be no problem. I haven't this, but perhaps eventually...

His discography is quite small, but with the two discs I have, I have 16 works that truly shine light on what seems like a solitary voice in the wilderness. For those who NEED meat!
Title: Re: Hans-Joachim Hespos
Post by: petrarch on February 03, 2012, 04:21:07 PM
Didn't know him. Not bad, not bad at all...
Title: Re: Hans-Joachim Hespos
Post by: some guy on February 03, 2012, 04:53:24 PM
I have a little bit, which didn't strike me as strikingly as it did you.

I'm pretty sure I don't have Z, though, so you may have heard more striking stuff than I.

Or maybe I need to hear some more.

I like walking in the park, though, and consider the hardest, harshest, most excruciating music to be perfectly park like!
Title: Re: Hans-Joachim Hespos
Post by: snyprrr on February 03, 2012, 09:59:44 PM
Quote from: some guy on February 03, 2012, 04:53:24 PM
I have a little bit, which didn't strike me as strikingly as it did you.

I'm pretty sure I don't have Z, though, so you may have heard more striking stuff than I.

Or maybe I need to hear some more.

I like walking in the park, though, and consider the hardest, harshest, most excruciating music to be perfectly park like!

I think most of the 'Solo' disc is on YouTube.

The 'Ensemble 13' disc that I got by Ebay includes a piece for many strings, saxophone,... and conga!,... which is,... it's harsh, hah,... the conga is allowed to play at sonic speed, which works well,... his string sonorities are pretty unremitting...

...this other piece lasts only a minute and a half, but the notes said it took many five hour rehearsals,... and so forth...

also, he likes to use lots of obscure wind instruments


Actually, the piece 'solo cello' from 1964 sounds just like a great Palm piece from that DG recital. It's 4mins., but he gets quite a lot of work out of it, all in sounds. Truly, there is no real... ahem... 'music' in Hespos... you know what i mean. ;)


Quote from: petrarch on February 03, 2012, 04:21:07 PM
Didn't know him. Not bad, not bad at all...

My pleasure! 8)
Title: Re: Hans-Joachim Hespos
Post by: snyprrr on January 27, 2018, 06:17:32 AM
avant bump
Title: Re: Hans-Joachim Hespos
Post by: Mandryka on July 21, 2022, 10:37:47 AM
Hans Joachim Hespos sadly died yesterday.