Classical music newbie
Wed, May 15 2013, 1:39PM
#2
RE: Bobby wrote:If it helps with
I was about to post some recommendations, but then I saw Gorecki 3 mentioned and decided not to bother.
Wed, May 15 2013, 1:48PM
#3
RE: Bobby wrote:If it helps with
I was about to post some recommendations, but then I saw Gorecki 3 mentioned and decided not to bother.
I suspect that I'm not the only one who would like to read your reasons for not bothering, 50m. Care to enlighten us?
Vic.
Wed, May 15 2013, 2:10PM
#4
RE: Bobby wrote:If it helps with
Gorecki is wallpaper music for a shallow can't be bovvered generation. If you love Gorecki you'll love Arvo Part. He is the three chord Status Quo of Wallpaper music.
Wed, May 15 2013, 2:45PM
#5
RE: Bobby wrote:If it helps with
Gorecki is wallpaper music for a shallow can't be bovvered generation. If you love Gorecki you'll love Arvo Part. He is the three chord Status Quo of Wallpaper music.
Bobby, whatever you may think about Sidney's style (!), the recommendation is a good one. I think you'd likely enjoy a lot of Arvo Pärt's music. I certainly do too.
Chris
Wed, May 15 2013, 2:51PM
#6
RE: Bobby wrote:If it helps with
I suspect that I'm not the only one who would like to read your reasons for not bothering, 50m. Care to enlighten us?
Vic.
Vic, Sid already said it, it's elevator music. And it's even worse than regular elevator music: it's pretentious elevator music. Music that pretends to be deep and soulful but has neither soul or depth. Now I think about it, it's an insult to regular elevator music.
I met Gorecki once, in person. He did a masterclass at the Maastricht conservatorium, which consisted of him asking us lowly composition students "what is the most important thing in music?" Every answer he got made him shake his head sadly, followed by a long, vague discourse about the insufferable wrongness of this particular answer. By the time all students had given the chance to give wrong answers, the time was up and Mr. Gorecki left, leaving us poor unenlightened souls in utter befuddlement, wondering what the right answer could be and whether *gasp* *shock* the quest for the answer could be the answer itself?
Well, I assume the hipsters among my dear colleagues (of which there were plentiful) felt that way. I myself knew he was a windbag back then, and I know it now.
I since then learned that the aswer is 42, no thanks to Mr. Gorecki.
Wed, May 15 2013, 3:17PM
#7
RE: Bobby wrote:If it helps with
It's pretentious elevator music. Music that pretends to be deep and soulful but has neither soul or depth. Now I think about it, it's an insult to regular elevator music.
Be careful, he (who can't be named) will take that as a recommendation.
Wed, May 15 2013, 3:42PM
#8
RE: Classical music newbie
Once more (even if it is not that often), I can fully second 50m's post. Very well spotted: Pretentious elevator music! Harsh but Brilliant!
As for the "newbie", we should not be surprised, if he liked "Gorecki's 3rd"; it was a top hit even in the pop charts (fortunately only in UK), when Nonesuch released the recording with Zinman/Upshaw back in the early 90s.
I trust some reading material along with some good sampling of essential listening works might help, but I do not hold my breath (this "a la Chopin" was impressive and telling enough).
Parla
Thu, May 16 2013, 7:02AM
#9
RE: Classical music newbie
I'm all for ending a thread that has descended into needless negativity, but making this the cut-off point misses the regret of several posters who thought that denegrating the musical choices of a new member requesting advice does not show this forum in a good light.
Vic.
Thu, May 16 2013, 7:20AM
#10
RE: Bobby wrote:If it helps with
I shall spend a couple of hours with Spotify today as I explore your 1, 2 and 3 above.
And did so last night, much to the benefit of my musical education and enjoyment. I loved the Glass and will investigate recommended versions. Any suggestions?
Thanks for these, Jane. Hopefully Bobby will find them useful too.
Vic.
Thu, May 16 2013, 7:38AM
#11
RE: Bobby wrote:If it helps with
Bobby, since you enjoy the Gorecki symphony so much I wonder whether you might enjoy a CD of King's College Choir called Ikos.
It has music of Gorecki, Pärt and Tavener, interespersed with Gregorian chant.
I'm sure you know already whether you like the sound of the choir. f you are curious, both Amazon and iTunes offer downloads so you can pre-audition tracks from the CD. I think it's a lovely CD.
Whatever you choose: good listening!
Chris
Hell, Bobby! Why didntcha say? You aint a newbie, after all.
Janeeliotgardiner, you are a gem to this forum! Great recommendations - and you win the literary award which I have just invented. (To say nothing of your having the number of a certain contributor.) Great stuff!
I shall spend a couple of hours with Spotify today as I explore your 1, 2 and 3 above.
This forum is so much better all round now.
Vic.