korngold. Corn v Gold.
Fri, Jan 25 2013, 11:54AM
More corn than gold, is the old (very old) joke, but is his stock beginning to rise. Is the gold beginning to shine. Is there a lady who knows all that glitters is Korngold... OK, I'll stop it. His sugary sweet violin concerto has grown on me, should one investigate more , or in these days of quorn are we just glad to be Korn fed chickens. Hands up for Korngold anyone. ?.. anyone!!!
Sat, Jan 26 2013, 1:01PM
#2
RE: korngold. Corn v Gold.
I think he was the 20th century's Mendelssohn. Composing may have been a bit TOO easy for him, more like a daytime job than a true calling, and not always warranted by a strong inner drive. Which can explain why he felt so at ease with the demands of Hollywood.
Sat, Jan 26 2013, 1:47PM
#3
RE: korngold. Corn v Gold.
50m, I think that 'truism' is only partially valid, both for Korngold and for Mendelssohn. Oddly no one makes that complaint for Mozart (rightly so). I think it ill serves the best music of both Mendelssohn and Korngold. Perhaps there is (some) more truth in the idea that both were childhood prodigies who ultimately delivered less in their mature years than might have been expected (bearing in mind though that in the case of Mendelssohn, 'maturity' ended at age 38).
Chris
PS: 50m, nothing to do with the subject but just to let you know I'm enjoying the Rheinberger organ sonatas. Do you play any of Mendelssohn's organ works?
Sat, Jan 26 2013, 8:16PM
#4
RE: korngold. Corn v Gold.
Chris, agreed, but it's kind of a chicken or egg question: what was first and what caused what? One could say that "burning yourself out" as a child prodigy may cause your later work to be somewhat lackluster compared to the works of composers who were allowed a slower maturisation. But once can also argue that our view of their work is miscolored by focusing too hard on their childhood brilliancy.
As for the organ stuff - glad you enjoy the Rheinbergers!
Also, I do enjoy Mendelssohn's works, but they're not on the top of my list. The sonatas are masterpieces (though uneven ones), but they've become so popular and overplayed that people think there's nothing else of value to be found in German Romantism till the era of Reger. That's why I'm increasingly focusing as an organist on all those forgotten composers: Hesse, Brosig, Merkel, Rinck, M.G. Fischer, Claussnitzer... There are enough people advocating French Romantic music already, it's their German counterparts that tend to be overlooked now.
Definitely, I believe there is much "gold" in Korngold, even when there is some "korn".
He was such a genius in composing anything he was up to. His Chamber Music is superbly crafted, his Songs have an impeccable vocal line and his Orchestral works are characterised by magnificent orchestration as well as ingenious craft and structure.
Parla