Among The Living: Works of Living Composers
Posted by: Todd A on 07 April 2002
In much the same spirit as the ongoing thread devoted to lesser-known works, I thought it appropriate to start a new thread devoted to music composed solely by living composers. These works will represent our time for future generations, and I think it appropriate and necessary to listen to what is happening now. With all of the different “schools” of music out there – high modernism, post-modernism, neo-romanticism, etc – some of the music is bound to be masterful. Some will not.
So, in the hopes of finding a modern day masterpiece, I will begin with a brief look at a new disc: Three string quartets by Gloria Coates on Naxos. The disc includes the 1st, 5th, and 6th quartets, from the 1960s, 1980s, and 1999, respectively. The First is a fine, somewhat aggressive, very short (about 6 minutes) work that seems to offer promise. Were this type of writing expanded somewhat, the string quartet repertoire could be substantially enriched. Alas, it is not to be. The Fifth quartet is too long – at some 31 minutes – and too reliant upon the same musical tool – glissando. The liner notes claim it is wrong to think of Gloria Coates as a glissando composer, but I disagree. That is all she has up her sleeve in these works. The first two movements start out promising, but after a few minutes of first a violin pitch change, and then a cello pitch change, and then – well, you get the idea. It is all very colorful, but it wears thin. The Third movement of the quartet, entitled “In the Fifth Dimension,” is quite unusual and caught my attention briefly. It also caught my 5-year-old son’s attention as he came into my stereo room and asked, “What is this?” I explained in simple terms, and he summed it up best by saying it sounds like “Alien music.”
The Sixth Quartet is better than the Fifth, and it did not bore me as much, but ultimately it cannot compete with other modern quartets. (Take Dusapin’s Third for instance. A modern masterpiece.) It, too, is relentless if colorful glissando, but a certain hallucinogenic quality peers through. Indeed, I would have potentially enjoyed this piece in my college days. Her technique seems reminiscent of Ligeti, Kurtag, or Dusapin to some extent, but it lacks the invention and interest of those composers’ works. Glissando is but a single tool; it should not define an entire work.
I will keep the disc, and it is not terrible. I just don’t think I will listen to it a whole lot.
Posted on: 07 September 2003 by herm
quote:
Originally posted by DJH:
BTW, I'm David, not Duncan, and I didn't talk about Rachmaninov on Groovehandle!
Oh, I'm sorry. Your initials must have thrown me.It's happened before, hasn't it?
Takemitsu piano pieces recorded by Peter Serkin are pretty good. There's the Rain Tree Sketches, and on another disc Les Yeux Clos.
His chamber orchestra pieces indeed can get a little cloying at times.
Interesting you mention Carter piano music. Recently I got a Pianovox disc with the Carter's Night Fantasies, a piece that's supposed to be modeled on Schumann's Kreisleriana.
Herman
Posted on: 07 September 2003 by DJH
Serkin is a very interesting pianist. There is a really excellent ECM disc of Peter Serkin and Andras Schiff playing music for two pianos by Mozart, Reger and Busoni - the Reger in particular is superb. I don't know what it is about ECM, but their discs seem to have a most realistic ambience which puts other labels to shame.
Carter talked about how Rome provided inspiration for Night Fantasies, along with many of his other longer pieces - strange how Rome has that effect on many people.
Posted on: 07 September 2003 by herm
Some Peter Serkin discs on other labels:
The Ocean that has no West and no East: Webern, Wolpe, Messiaen, Takemitsu, Knussen, Lieberson, Wuorinen (Koch Int)
...In real time: Berio, Goehr, Henze, Kirchner, Knussen, Lieberson, Takemitsu (RCA Victor)
and a New World Records disc with the Stravinsky Serenade and sonata plus three pieces by Stefan Wolpe. And another version of Lieberson's Bagatelles.
And of course he's on many of those Takemitsu chamber works, too, with this ensemble Tashi.
Incidentally, it's a small world. Peter Lieberson, whose works Serkin champions, is the son of the Columbia Records exec who signed and minded Rudolf Serkin. Lieberson's mother is Vera Zorina, who was previously married to the great choreographer George Balanchine (I believe she was the first of five). &c ad inf.
Herman
Posted on: 27 September 2003 by Todd A
Now for some music from the icy North. I have a thing for Finnish music. Maybe it’s because I’m half Finnish, I don’t know, but there is something about them Lapps. Of course, Sibelius looms large – how could he not – but there are others. Fortunately, some of them are still alive and writing music.
First up is Magnus Lindberg. I’d read about his music before, but I’d never actually heard it. So why not try out that Esa-Pekka Salonen led recording of four of his works on Sony? Why not, indeed? A success? Well, yes and no. The disc opens with Cantigas, a quasi-oboe concerto. The music unfolds without sharply defined sections or passages, but nonetheless moves forward quite nicely. It is dissonant, angular, difficult; in a word it is modern, but not inaccessibly so. Both orchestral and solo writing are engaging. The Cello Concerto is likewise compelling. No, it cannot match up with, say, Dutilleux, much less with Shotakovich, but it is a fine piece. The last two pieces – Parada and Fresco – are undistinguished and fade from memory as soon as the polycarbonate disc stops spinning. So, a mixed bag, but perhaps one you should consider. The Philharmonia play at the highest level, and Lindberg could not ask for a better champion than Salonen. Sound is excellent, if a bit bright at times.
An altogether higher level of achievement is presented on a BIS recording of four works by Einojuhani Rautavaara. The disc in question is the 1998 release of Angel of Dusk, a concerto for double-bass and orchestra, the Second Symphony, and two tiny orchestral gems – A Finnish Myth and Pelimannit. To the short works first: they both have that (quasi-) folk thing going on that I so enjoy. These little Finnish though Bartokian gems make for a fine twelve minutes of music. They’re not especially deep, but so what? The Angel of Dusk is a compelling work. Who knew that the double bass could be so musical? The piece has that sometimes mystical, always intriguing Rautavaara sound (so hard to describe) that force me to listen intently. Even better is the Second Symphony. Dissonant, possessed of dodecaphonic elements, yet utterly musical and enjoyable. Twenty minutes of musical escape. Jean-Jaques Kantorow and the Tapiola Sinfonietta plays splendidly and in SOTA sound. Highly recommended.
"The universe is change, life is opinion." Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Posted on: 27 September 2003 by ejl
Todd,
Have you heard the Finnish RSO recording of Lindberg's Feria, Corrente II, and Arena?
I think it's pretty good. These are supposedly his "major" works. Certainly they aren't, IMO, forgetable as you say his Parada and Fresco are (I haven't heard these).
I might try that Rautavaara second. As I mentioned on another thread, I've been enjoying his Alexis Kivi, which is, as you say, rather hard to describe (as is Lindberg).
Eric
Posted on: 20 December 2003 by Todd A
Yesterday I snapped up a sale copy of this disc on Naxos (for $4! That normal $7 is obviously way too high) and must sing its praises. I’m something of a burgeoning fan of Rorem’s music, having purchased the superb Naxos disc of three of his chamber pieces earlier this year and having enjoyed his Fourth String Quartet played by the Emerson for some years now. How does Ned stand up to the other post-war symphonists? Quite well, if you go in expecting something less dramatic than Shostakovich. His music is both unabashedly tonal and quite melodic.
I listened to them in sequence, and all are very good. The First is the most chipper of the bunch, the Third the most dramatic. His orchestration pleases the ear, and he never gives us an uncomfortable sounding note. All three works were written within about eight years and perhaps as a result do not sound vastly different. As to the sound world, think Debussy meets Korngold meets Piston, perhaps, though Rorem’s music ultimately is individual. Generally, Piston and Ives aside, I’m not a huge fan of most American symphonies, but these are excellent. No, they don’t quite compare with Beethoven or Bruckner, but I did not expect them to. The playing and (January 2003 recording) sound quality are excellent. (The bass may be a bit too boomy or resonant at times, though, depending on your sonic appetite.)
"The universe is change, life is opinion." Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Posted on: 22 December 2003 by Todd A
Oops, I just noticed that I neglected to point out the disc first. I was obviously referring to Naxos' disc of Ned Rorem's Three Symphonies. (I originally write this thread for different forum which had a title. My mistake.)
"The universe is change, life is opinion." Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Posted on: 18 February 2004 by stephenjohn
Ian Wilson, a 30/40 something Irishman
Towards the Far Country
This is a recording of his first three string quartets performed by the Vanbrugh Quartet. I have only had chance to listen to the 3rd SQ properly but it’s well worth the price of the CD alone. A wonderfully evocative piece of music, one movement 28 minutes long, which took me to a far country. I have also ordered his piano trios: an update in the future
Posted on: 19 February 2004 by stephenjohn
Wilson Piano Trios
Played by Kammerspiel on Timbre Records DMHCD4.
Came today, listened to his 2nd, titled The Last Seven Words. Wonderful. Manages to be both spiritual and modern. No Holy Minimalism here. I wholeheartedly recommend this disk
Steve
Posted on: 15 March 2004 by Todd A
I don't know, Nick: all those mentions of Part kind of put me off. But then you mention Gubaidulina and pique my interest. Since I like Kaskashian, I may very well have to sample this. After all, I'm one of those sick types that actually enjoy music without a discernible tune.
"The universe is change, life is opinion." Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
