Gorecki
Mon, Nov 15 2010, 9:54PM
Hi everyone,
Any comments on Gorecki's death and the value of his works?
Tue, Nov 30 2010, 1:45PM
#2
RE: Gorecki
Hi everyone,
Any comments on Gorecki's death and the value of his works?
I've written a piece about Gorecki for the next issue and I enjoyed catching up with some of his music again after many years, despite the sad occasion. I think Lerchenmusik for clarinet, cello, piano is rather special, especially how Gorecki paraphrases the opening of Beethoven's Fourth Piano Concerto in the last section. Also worth checking out; the early Xenakis-meets- Lutoslawksi orchestral piece Scontri.
Tue, Nov 30 2010, 6:17PM
#3
RE: Gorecki
I especially value his quartets, in particular the 3rd one, which if I am not mistaken, received rave reviews from this magazine. There is more to Gorecki than his 3rd symphony. Someone on this forum considers the 3rd symphony overrated. That is unfortunate.
Wed, Dec 1 2010, 2:15AM
#4
RE: Gorecki
Could someone please explain why his third symphony was such a remarkable work. I've listened to it very closely and nothing about it strikes me as brilliant. Perhaps I'm overlooking a certain aspect of it.
Wed, Dec 1 2010, 7:57AM
#5
RE: Gorecki RE: Gorecki
Perhaps when the dust settles, the Third Symphony won't be regarded as such a remarkable work; in terms of musical plumbing, Gorecki's Second is infinitely more happening. But the Third undoubtedly captured imaginations. Why? Could it be because Gorecki sets up what the symphony will do in its opening moments and then doesn't stray from that path? Add into that a surface beauty and memorable melodic contours, and the fact it arrived on the back of similarly slow meditative music by Tavener, Part et al, and one can begin to see why, nearly twenty years after Gorecki wrote it, the symphony found its audience.
Thu, Dec 2 2010, 2:33AM
#6
RE: Gorecki
Frostwalrus, I guess it depends what you look for in music? For me, the symphony seems to have the melancholy of Shostakovich (but a bit less nihilistic), combined with the ravishing textures of Debussy and Mahler. The third movement is admittedly too repetitive, but otherwise I always have a feeling that something is happening, albeit gradually. (I'm generally not a great fan of the minimalists, BTW.)
Sat, Jan 21 2012, 6:53PM
#7
RE: Gorecki
Hi Philip.
I am in full agreement with you that Gorecki's second is an amazing symphony and probably more musically satisfying than the third.The very tense and repetitive - and quite disturbing - first movement gives way to a more reposeful second with flowing lines for the solo singers. Yes it is an impressive work.
Your analysis of the reasons for the popularity of the third may well be accurate. I also think that the fact the symphony was on the theme of imprisonment may well have touched people in some way.
Regards
Mark (Partsong)
PS Only just found this thread! Did not know it was here! Will try to find your article.
Mon, Jan 23 2012, 1:01PM
#8
RE: Gorecki
Hi Mark. I'm pleased that, two years on, I still agree with myself!
Tue, Jan 24 2012, 12:38PM
#9
RE: Gorecki
Hi Philip!
I usually find that agreeing with oneself, though it can be difficult, is not as difficult as agreeing with others!
Mark
Tue, Jan 24 2012, 10:13PM
#10
RE: Gorecki
...because, dear Mark, yourself can easily cheat you, but not, necessarily, the... others.
An unsung hero professor has said once: "to philosophise is the perfect way to evade the truth, by keeping searching it".
Now, go back to Gorecki.
Parla
Thu, Feb 9 2012, 12:54PM
#11
RE: Gorecki
I agree that Gorecki's third isn't to everyone's tastes. I love it. In fact, it is the only piece of music that inspired me to get 4 versions.
But there is much more to Gorecki. I would suggest anyone interested should try his string quartets. Also, Beatus Vir is a formidable work. So is In Domine Nostra.
Apparently not! I have a lot of time for his 3rd, and think it one of the best things from the last 50 years. Its popularisation seems sadly to have led to it being regarded as "uncool" by critics. I would like to investigate further of his music, but most of it is expensive or out of print. What we really need is a good boxset.