Any thoughts on Silvestrov?
Tue, Oct 4 2011, 8:44AM
I wondered whether anyone on the forum had a view on Silvestrov, with special reference to the symphonies?
I bought the 45 minute one-movement no.5, found it difficult at first, and then started to enjoy it. Once past the first couple of minutes of dissonant gestures some very beautiful lyrical melodies start to appear, and the spell of its pulseless soundworld takes over. (I found the postmodernist claims of the sleeve note unconvincing).
I then tried no.6 which seems a similar work but I found much less convincing. The most perplexing thing is the fact that during the 25-minute slow movement Silvestrov seems to be making the same musical gesture (of a few bars) over and over again. Why did he not grasp that such a level of repetition, even of an unusual idea, just becomes boring?
Any other recommendations in his music?
Tue, Oct 4 2011, 3:16PM
#2
RE: Any thoughts on Silvestrov?
As an avid collector, I have almost anything available of Silvestrov, but I find his music almost irrelevant and indifferent. I agree that the 5th sounds better than the 6th, but both are somewhere lost in "translation" of what they are all about.
His chamber music sounds somehow better. ECM has some good recordings of his Violin Sonata, his Trio with clarinette, the Cello Sonata and the 1st String Quartet. His vocal music (on ECM mostly) is slightly more intriguing (Requiem for Larissa, Silent Songs). On the rare label Megadisc, you may find some Cantatas and other vocal works.
However, I wonder whether you have truly investigated and indulged in the music of Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Shchedrin, Weinberg and Myakovsky, before you embark on Silvestrov. If not, go backwards to these masters of great music.
Parla
Tue, Oct 4 2011, 3:54PM
#3
RE: Any thoughts on Silvestrov?
Given to understand that he was one of the greatest living symphonists I bought a recording of the 6th.
Quite impressive until repeated listening dulled the experience.
Thinking 4 and 5 would be different they turned out to be the same only more so.
However, I have decided to play them again but once in a blue moon.
Tue, Oct 4 2011, 9:30PM
#4
RE: Any thoughts on Silvestrov?
Silvestrov's 4th Symphony is well worth experiencing, and it shows a more dramatic side to his music than the 5th.
There is an element of his music being Mahler-lite - you get all the yearning without having to put in much work - but what's wrong with that every now and again?
Excuse me, but which symphonies?
Adrian