Peter Ruzicka
I could've sworn I already had a Thread... anyhow, there's been an explosion of Ruzicka discs,... and here I was all worried about Rihm!
HELP!
What is Ruzicka's music like? Any points of comparison?
FYI, Ruzicka's name is pronounced as roo-zhich-ka, not with the same consonants as "musica."
As far as the music goes, I haven't heard much of it, but I enjoyed a work for four horns and orchestra I once heard called Spiral. Quite an engaging style to me.
The HR/Frankfurt videos are great! See and hear...
https://www.youtube.com/v/6WYeXDpuFUg
P.
Quote from: Mirror Image on May 29, 2016, 10:31:32 AM
What is Ruzicka's music like? Any points of comparison?
Lachenmann + Pettersson ??? Serious Intent Coupled with A Fragmented Soundworld... generally somewhat apocalyptic sounding... I KNOW there's some Ruzicka you would like... early or late, I can't tell...
Quote from: lescamil on May 29, 2016, 10:40:05 AM
FYI, Ruzicka's name is pronounced as roo-zhich-ka, not with the same consonants as "musica."
As far as the music goes, I haven't heard much of it, but I enjoyed a work for four horns and orchestra I once heard called Spiral. Quite an engaging style to me.
But, that's what I did:
La Moo-zhich-ka Roo-zhich-ka... lol, works for me!! :)
I'm sure CRCulver will have some pointers...
Ruzicka is one of my little pet composers that I like to fancy a "well-kept secret", kinda like Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf, but who knows how true or untrue any of that is.
His five NEOS albums (including a piano disc, three orchestral discs, and a two-disc string quartet album) are all incredible. The aforementioned Spiral was an instant hit with me, as was the much quieter Nachtstück (- aufgegebenes werk), for trumpet and orchestra. I think the Pettersson comparison works, in some ways; Ruzicka definitely repeats similar motifs at times.
The other albums, mostly on Thorofon, tend to reinforce the strengths established by the NEOS discs, in addition to showing another side of the composer; NEOS tends to cover mostly newer works of any given composer, and Ruzicka sounds a fair bit more roudy in older orchestral works like Befragung.
Sorry if this post made no sense whatsoever. I just woke up from a much-needed catnap.
I have this disk and I like it quite a lot. It is hard to explain this music (I haven't listened to it in a while). It is modern composition, but there's something very attractive, unforced and worthy of repeated listened. I'm definitely interested in that composer.
[asin]B00I0I0JDM[/asin]
Quote from: nathanb on May 29, 2016, 05:43:50 PM
Ruzicka is one of my little pet composers that I like to fancy a "well-kept secret", kinda like Claus-Steffen Mahnkopf, but who knows how true or untrue any of that is.
His five NEOS albums (including a piano disc, three orchestral discs, and a two-disc string quartet album) are all incredible. The aforementioned Spiral was an instant hit with me, as was the much quieter Nachtstück (- aufgegebenes werk), for trumpet and orchestra. I think the Pettersson comparison works, in some ways; Ruzicka definitely repeats similar motifs at times.
The other albums, mostly on Thorofon, tend to reinforce the strengths established by the NEOS discs, in addition to showing another side of the composer; NEOS tends to cover mostly newer works of any given composer, and Ruzicka sounds a fair bit more roudy in older orchestral works like Befragung.
Sorry if this post made no sense whatsoever. I just woke up from a much-needed catnap.
I just ordered that old CPO disc with 'Sinfonia', 'Feed Back', et al. All I have is the Arditti/ECM disc, which of course is mandatory.
I spent all night looking at his Discography, and about 98% of Ruzicka is available (except for the most recent era). Maybe I'll just list some here:
WERGO #1: Metastrophe, ...fragment..., In processo di tiempo (cello concerto), Begegung (tape), Stress (percussion)
CPO: Sinfonia, Feed Back, Befragnung, Metamorphoses/Haydn
Thorophon #1: Torso, Etym, Tallis, A+Stille (piano concerto), "Pettersson" piece
z-Zeit: organ/accordion piece
The first two CDs, plus 'Torso', represent most of Ruzicka's earlier 70's work, which may be more experimental. Was he doing Lachenmann when Lachenmann wasn't Lachenmann yet?
Koch: 5 "brushstrokes", Satyagraha, A+Stille (piano concerto), 5 Piano Preludes
WERGO #2: Metamorphoses/Haydn, "Impuls" (viola concerto), Abruche, Emanazione (flute + strings)
Thorophon #2: Inseln... Randlos (violin concerto with choir), Gestalt und Arbruch (choral), Vorflegflfoeiene(???), Die Sonne Sanct (voice with orchestra)
This represents most of the 80s, ending with the "Haydn" piece.
NEOS #1: Vorecho, Nachklang, Memorial (Sinopoli), Nachstuck
NEOS #2: Um Unstern, Trans, Mahler/Bild
NEOS #3: Spiral (4horn concerto), Recherche (chorus with orchestra), Lizst piece, R.W. (orchestral), R.W. (piano piece)
Jarvi disc: Clouds
Widmann disc(?): Erinnerung (clarinet concerto)
Thorophon #3: ...Ins Offene... (strings), SQ5, Tombeau (flute + SQ), Neechee(baritone/piano), Holderlin (baritone/piano)
Thorophon #4: "Werk fur Cello": ...An die Granze...(concerto), Cello Sonata (solo) , Recitatiziv?;-cello +piano), Stille (solo), some other piece...
Thorophon #5: Einschriebung(?), Erinnerung (later orchestral works a la NEOS)
Thorophon #6: Celan Symphony, Erinnerung
Inbal disc: Affluence (orchestral)
NEOS Piano Music
NEOS String Quartets 1-6
ECM String Quartets 1-4
MDG (mostly cello, one SQ)
Rihm/ Ruzicka: baritone disc with Dieskau
I'd probably go in this order:
1) CPO
2) NEOS #1
3) Koch
4) Thorophon #2
5) ECM
6) Thorophon "Werk fur Cello"
7) NEOS #3
Quote from: Artem on May 29, 2016, 07:39:49 PM
I have this disk and I like it quite a lot. It is hard to explain this music (I haven't listened to it in a while). It is modern composition, but there's something very attractive, unforced and worthy of repeated listened. I'm definitely interested in that composer.
[asin]B00I0I0JDM[/asin]
I hear Vol.1 is even better. Check out the Discography in the previoswu Post
I've listened to all of those except for: Thorofon #3, Thorofon #4, and MDG. As far as the Thorofons go, those remaining ones are in my amazon mp3 cart, pending monetary choices and whatnot [I just ordered 5 NEOS CDs and both my CD cart and MP3 cart are in constant flux].
IMO the NEOS #2 is probably the least awesome of the five NEOS choices, but I intend to give it more attention... hard to compete with an amazing trumpet concerto and a horn quartet concerto, for me...
Quote from: nathanb on May 30, 2016, 09:54:27 AM
choicest [I just ordered 5 NEOS CDs and both my CD cart and MP3 cart are in constant flux].
It's called the CDCDCD Thread. Go there NOOOW!!!
Otherwise, good show old chap!! Yea, NEOS is a mutha... always releasing more than the wallet can handel... I myself am debating on what to hock to get the money for a Ruzicka-thon!
Quote from: snyprrr on May 30, 2016, 10:30:46 AM
It's called the CDCDCD Thread. Go there NOOOW!!!
Otherwise, good show old chap!! Yea, NEOS is a mutha... always releasing more than the wallet can handel... I myself am debating on what to hock to get the money for a Ruzicka-thon!
While money remains a major issue (at least another year, until I finally finish my engineering degree), I tend to buy MP3 albums when I can, and focus my CD fund on those that can't be bought on amazon mp3. If you buy MP3s, you'll surely know that NEOS stopped making their catalogue available about 2/3rds into their current catalogue (somewhere around the Maderna Vol. 5, Rolf Hind, Daniele Lombardi, etc). As a result, I currently have 100% of the first two thirds on my iPod (except for a couple of DVDs and NEOS Classics records, like the Brahms), but I'm still filling in gaps with the latter third. NEOS and KAIROS are my two major obsessions. I try to get a hold of any Mode, Aeon, Col Legno, Wergo, and ECM albums of composers I know, but NEOS and KAIROS are the only ones that compel me to blind buy unknown composers all the time. When you buy MP3's and focus your CD purchases on the special stuff, this kind of stuff gets a lot more affordable.
Quote from: nathanb on May 30, 2016, 10:56:34 AM
but NEOS and KAIROS are the only ones that compel me to blind buy unknown composers all the time.
dangerous shit right there!!
Stradivarius had that effect on me back when... but those two are just ridiculous!!
Finally the NEOS Vol.1 arrived, and it is pretty good stuff. Almost 80mins. of modern tones... I even think Ruzicka will not be charged with Rautavaar-izing his output- it's easier to listen to, but not sentimental or nostalgic- well, in a way, that IS Ruzicka's thing, but, trust me, he's not gone "soft" here. Let's just say that I like the "New Ruzicka" better than the "New Rihm"- somewhat the same thing happening, but it appears to me that Ruzicka is using older musics IN his music, whereas Rihm seems to be writing Old Music?
If this were York Holler, electronics would appear in these pieces, but that's the only real difference. Both Composers ... wait...
Quote from: snyprrr on June 12, 2016, 06:47:28 AM
Finally the NEOS Vol.1 arrived, and it is pretty good stuff. Almost 80mins. of modern tones... I even think Ruzicka will not be charged with Rautavaar-izing his output- it's easier to listen to, but not sentimental or nostalgic- well, in a way, that IS Ruzicka's thing, but, trust me, he's not gone "soft" here. Let's just say that I like the "New Ruzicka" better than the "New Rihm"- somewhat the same thing happening, but it appears to me that Ruzicka is using older musics IN his music, whereas Rihm seems to be writing Old Music?
If this were York Holler, electronics would appear in these pieces, but that's the only real difference. Both Composers ... wait...
I was listening to that disc last night. I love it so much. Get Vol. 3 next. Spiral will melt your face off.
Quote from: snyprrr on May 29, 2016, 09:29:17 AM
... anyhow, there's been an explosion of Ruzicka discs
(http://cdn.trend.az/media/pictures/2009/12/15/Explosion_151209.jpg)
But fortunately, no one was hurt, as it was Sunday and the music shoppe was closed.
Quote from: nathanb on June 12, 2016, 01:14:15 PM
Spiral will melt your face off.
you had me at "melt" :laugh:
Seriously, the language that GMG'rs have cultivated to express their feelings about Abstract Art Musik is really quite the most nuanced use of the English language, so, when you get a statement like above, you know the author is pulling out all the apocalyptic stops to get you to get the picture-
therefore
the same phrase will work for anyone-
EXAMPLE:
I'm sure that Ruzicka, known for Avant garde Musik, may actually have a section in the piece with four horns where the horns mimic the "sounds of melting faces in the rain"- it's not beyond the realm of possibility- BUT- one of our ultra-conservative Members might actually use the same phrase concerning,... lol,... Elgar, or Brian,... or,... lol, it's too funny,... but, you get the idea?
So, point being....
I dont care who ya're, that's some funny shit right thar! ;)
I'm actually at a place of repose in The Quest... waiting of the last spate of orders- all Germania- I've been looking over The Library, not really feeling the need to spend every waking minute researching CDs to buy (oy vey!!)-
MY SOLUTION_
Go for Hindemith!!
Here's a Composer that I already have enough for a long listening experience, to cleanse my buds. He's got a nice pure sound... try to stay away from the rabbit hole that is Villa-Lobos, arf!!
Quote from: nathanb on June 12, 2016, 01:14:15 PM
I was listening to that disc last night. I love it so much. Get Vol. 3 next. Spiral will melt your face off.
Vol.1 was almost conservative- but Ruzicka still speaks in an Avant language, though, as in 'Vorecho' ("Fore-Echo'), the influence of Pettersson is crystal clear- but that's what I liked there- the thought that, had Pettersson actually progressed, this is what a modern Pettersson Symphony might sound like (Ruzicka seems also a very thoughtful and,...mm...melancoly? man).
'Nachklang' ('Reverberation') was the most like good old-fashioned High Modernism, just waiting for those Holler-like electronics to come in at any moment.
'Memorial' (for G.Sinopoli) was very nice- I started here, mistake, but, in context of the flow of the album, I would have had a differing view...
'Nachtstuck' I can't recall this morning, lol
I love that I'm getting him and Holler mixed up... it almost makes for more music in my head, haha!
Yea, I like New Ruzicka better than New Rihm...
A bit of a dissenting opinion. Sorry guys! :-[
Quote from: ritter on June 10, 2016, 01:35:25 PM
First listen ever to any music composed by Peter Ruzicka:
[asin]B00SKCAM3K[/asin]
Spiral has some attractive ideas. Recherche (-im Innersten) starts out with orchestral blasts and textless choral interventions that I found tedious and devoid of any real musical interest, but the second, more lyrical section is turning out to be much more successful IMHO. Looking forward to the Liszt / Wagner inspired pieces, but am frankly underwhelmed so far :(
After writing this, I listened to
R.W. Übermalung für Orchester and to
R.W. Nachzeichnung für Klavier. My reaction was strange. ::) As someone who can't get enough of
Parsifal (for the past 35 years ;)), listening to the
Parsifal-inspired orchestral piece was pleasant at the beginning, but...then I reached a point whre I was asking myself "what's the point of this?". I find this taking delight in the music of the past can be seen as a rather complacent and ultimately unoriginal and futile artistic endeavour, and the word that came to mind was "decadent". Mind you, the same can be said of much of
Cristóbal Halffter's output, and I have admired this composer for many years. But it struck me as if
Peter Ruzicka was trying something that Halffter has been doing for some 40 years now, and I venture to say in a more subtle and ultimately more succesful way (particularly, because the "non-quotation", purely Halffterian orchestral writing is strikingly original IMHO). But still, I'm wiling to explore some other Ruzicka to see if my change this (first and perhaps rash) reaction.
Quote from: ritter on June 13, 2016, 12:44:31 PM
A bit of a dissenting opinion. Sorry guys! :-[
After writing this, I listened to R.W. Übermalung für Orchester and to R.W. Nachzeichnung für Klavier. My reaction was strange. ::) As someone who can't get enough of Parsifal (for the past 35 years ;)), listening to the Parsifal-inspired orchestral piece was pleasant at the beginning, but...then I reached a point whre I was asking myself "what's the point of this?". I find this taking delight in the music of the past can be seen as a rather complacent and ultimately unoriginal and futile artistic endeavour, and the word that came to mind was "decadent". Mind you, the same can be said of much of Cristóbal Halffter's output, and I have admired this composer for many years. But it struck me as if Peter Ruzicka was trying something that Halffter has been doing for some 40 years now, and I venture to say in a more subtle and ultimately more succesful way (particularly, because the "non-quotation", purely Halffterian orchestral writing is strikingly original IMHO). But still, I'm wiling to explore some other Ruzicka to see if my change this (first and perhaps rash) reaction.
Oh yes, the comparison to Halffter is quite apt, imo. But, BOTH Composers have been doing this for about the exact same amount of time. Witness the String Quartets No.1 of both. Both have Avant music interrupted by "normal" music. This is probably a BA Zimmermann thing, as Holler does the same thing. But, I agree, the "idea" sounds very similar in these Composers.
I don't think Ruzicka is any less subtle than Halffter (in their best works), but, I would have avoided that disc with the Wagner pieces... for some reason I just don't trust these Moderns when they touch either Wagner or Lizst... too recent?
Yes, ritter, do explore Ruzicka further, either the CPO disc, Vol.1 of the NEOS, or the String Quartets (Arditti or Minguet).
I mean, I was kind of taken of kilter by the "trumpet concerto" that actually seemed to turn out to be a commentary on Ives's 'The Unanswered Question'. I just think Ruzicka is adept at using "psychological states" to subvert the listener. His first musics were under the laboratory use of LSD. (citation please)
I'm having trouble hearing Ruzixka with the air conditioner on... but it's mighty hot outside...
Quote from: snyprrr on June 13, 2016, 04:18:08 PM
... for some reason I just don't trust these Moderns when they touch either Wagner or Lizst... too recent?
Yep, that was exactly what I thought, even if the 130 years elapsed between
Parsifal and
R.W. Übermalung make the word "recent" perhaps slightly inappropriate. But then again, in art, chronologocal time is perhaps a relative issue..."
Ich schreite kaum, doch wähn' ich schon weit" ;)
QuoteYes, ritter, do explore Ruzicka further, either the CPO disc, Vol.1 of the NEOS, or the String Quartets (Arditti or Minguet).
Thanks for the recommendations! Will certainly explore further to have a clearer idea...
I have no problem with Ruzicka going a bit retro in recent years. He hasn't shed all traces of contemporary technique nor does the music feel uninspired, so I feel no need for him to adamantly stride forward into hyper-modern terrains. Vorecho, Spiral, etc simply make for damn fine music.
But yes, it would technically be wrong to reject Ruzicka based on the NEOS discs alone, because the NEOS orchestral volumes only capture his latest period.
5 Fragments
Satragyaha
Annaherung und Stille
5 Preludes
This Koch disc is under 50mins., yet delivers three quite powerful works. The first is similar to other five movement orchestral work by Ruzicka, utilizing a somewhat kitchen-sink approach to putting various "mood" movements together. There is a lot of barely audible stuff going on throughout much Ruzicka, and here is no exception; but, of course, there is LOOOUD too!! Sometimes I wonder why Lachenmann gets all the "fragmented style" love and Ruzicka and Sciarrino get less- I think Ruzicka does a very similar thing to Lachenmann,... well, we can discuss...
'Satragyaha' begins with a string 'canto' that gets drawn into an orchestral explosion, gets obliterated, and then comes back. It's a good example of Ruzicka's "old-meets-new" thing, in a very abstract, serious way. This one sounded like the NEOS Ruzicka discs, though it's from the '80s.
The "un" piano concerto 'Annerung und Stille' juxtaposes Schumann fragments with LSD string orchestra. It may be the most fragmentary Ruzicka I've heard. At first I couldn't hear enough- turned off the AC- and was treated to a hidden freak show of post-Modern creepiness. This one's growing on me...
The Preludes for piano are fairly short and make a nice show of Ruzicka's way with a piano. Modern and refined, explosive and religious.
So, I do recommend this Koch disc, but find a cheap copy. This one compliments the two Thorofon discs (one with 'Torso'; the other with the Violin Concerto). I now have the CPO, this Koch, and Vol.1 of the NEOS- perhaps with a perusal of the other Thorofon discs one could get a really great Ruzicka overview in four discs.
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