What centenaries are coming up in 2013 - and are you looking forward to them?
Sun, Dec 30 2012, 2:47PM
All in the title.
Sun, Dec 30 2012, 4:56PM
#2
RE: What centenaries are coming up in 2013
Birth of George Lloyd (June 1913) - it would be nice to see at least one of his symphonies at the Proms, but I won't hold my breath.
... and why not make it the 4th Symphony (Arctic), a wonderful work born out of LLoyd's traumatic experience in the wartime Arctic and overcoming his subsequent health issues ... I'm still not holding my breath for the Proms but I notice from the George Lloyd website (www.georgelloyd.com) that there are a number of centenary concerts taking plce around the country.
Sun, Dec 30 2012, 11:35PM
#3
RE: What centenaries are coming up in 2013 -
George Lloyd is a rather good case of a composer to celebrate his centenary of his birth. However, two more important centenaries should be celebrated I trust: Lutoslawski's and Britten's and one less significant, that of Morton Gould, for those who might appreciate his art.
I hope "centenaries" do not exclude bicentenaries. In that case, we have two huge names of the 19th century, i.e. Wagner and Verdi!
As for the "centenaries" for the death of composers of the past, most noticeable are at least the cases of Gesualdo (400 years from his death), Corelli (300 years) and poor Vanhal (200 years), a composer I appreciate for his craft and musicality.
However, I'm not looking forward to anything special for them. They have been honoured enough, in one or the other way (particularly, in the discography).
Parla
Mon, Dec 31 2012, 12:09PM
#4
- and are you looking forward to them?
Allow me to refer to this piece by Bob Shingleton. As Alex Ross wrote of composer aniversaries, ' You can't find a more painfully obvious symbol of classical music's excessive fixation on the past.'
Mon, Dec 31 2012, 2:07PM
#5
RE: composer anniversaries
Yes that is an interesting piece Brumas. I think the advantage of an anniversary though is that it can perhaps launch a revival of interest in a composer. In my own case, I intend to re-connect with Britten who I confess I haven't listened to for a while.
Parla, re. Gesualdo:
Which is the odd one out?
nobleman
composer
lutenist
murderer
I have to be honest it has put me off listening to him! Any recommendations?
Mon, Dec 31 2012, 3:01PM
#6
RE: What centenaries are coming up in 2013
' You can't find a more painfully obvious symbol of classical music's excessive fixation on the past.'
Or perhaps the fact that we have to rely on anniversaries to revive (albeit temporarily) interest in unfairly neglected composers is an equally painfully obvious symbol of concert halls and promoters fixation with 'core' repertoire.
Cue Parla.
Mon, Dec 31 2012, 6:30PM
#7
RE: What centenaries are coming up in 2013
Interesting article Brumas! I must admit, it's a rather fine line I think in terms of whether or not one feels like a composer's music is being overplayed on the radio over the course of the year. Probably a hard balance for DJs and radio stations to achieve. But for me, if I don't like what I'm hearing (or feel like I've heard that work one too many times lately), I put on some music of my own.
The sets that come out can be quite wonderful--particularly if you can get them at a good price. Great way to explore a composer's oeuvre.
Also, it can be a wonderful way to expose "newbies" (or listeners whose general field(s) of interest don't lie in this area) to this composer's works. Perhaps something might "click"?
In short, I see it as a good thing!
Best wishes and a Happy New Year to all!
Petra
Mon, Dec 31 2012, 8:10PM
#8
doesn't anyone else see them!
I wouldn't worry about centenaries coming up. It is the year of the 13. It is so like totally bad karma. The world will end on the 13th hour of the 13th day of the 13th month. The number 2013 is divisible by 13 (if you allow for a few decimal places). That has to mean something. This year I'll mostly be eating my words. Happy new year, but remember the countdown to oblivion has begun.
Mon, Dec 31 2012, 8:26PM
#9
RE: doesn't anyone else see them!
Petra: I do have to agree on the sets that tend to accompany composer's anniverseries. But one does wonder what purpose an all-Verdi or and all-Mahler or whatever concert-series serves, as these composers are allready firmly grounded in the repertory.
Partsong: despite his sinister history, I'd really recommend checking out Gesualdo. In fact, in the case of Gesualdo, I think an anniversery would be in place - he's still rather unknown to the bigger audience. He has written some of the most sublime and complex polyphony out there, though, like this. The aforementioned Alex Ross has written a great essay on him.
Also, allow me, in the last hours of 2012, to quote a New Years wish by Neil Gaiman. The words are his, but the sentiment is mine:
"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness.
I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can.
And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."
Happy 2013!
Mon, Dec 31 2012, 9:22PM
#10
RE: What centre forward?
Isn't language wonderful! I just got that title from simply backspacing!
Okay Brumas I'll have a listen to some Gesualdo! Thanks for that, and the links. Will have a look.
And the New Year's Wishes. Likewise Happy New Year to yourself and everybody who writes here.
Hugh - for some of us 13 is a lucky number, having actually been born on Friday 13th! I jest you not. No sarcy comments please -'tis the season still of goodwill!
Mark
Mon, Dec 31 2012, 11:46PM
#11
RE: What centenaries are coming up in 2013 -
Mark, Gesualdo's music is wonderful for the period it was written. Particularly, his madrigali are second to none. There are at least three fine recordings on Glossa (La Venexiana), on Globe with the Kassiopeia Quintet and in an economical box on Newton, in an older recording with the Quinteto Vocale Italiano. All of them are excellent performances and the Glossa one very impressive indeed recordingwise.
Another important CD with all Gesualdo music is the "Tenebrae Responsories for Holy Saturday" with the Tallis Schollars, on Gimell. Marvelous singing in a natural recording.
However, a "centenary" for Gesualdo's music would be a bit awkward, since he was not that prolific and all his works are not that significant. We may confine ourselves to some new good recordings perhaps.
Happy New Year to all, once more (disregard the ominous 13, anyway).
Parla
Tue, Jan 1 2013, 1:47AM
#12
RE: - and are you looking forward to them?
Allow me to refer to this piece by Bob Shingleton. As Alex Ross wrote of composer aniversaries, ' You can't find a more painfully obvious symbol of classical music's excessive fixation on the past.'
Alex Ross has some explaining to do... his next book is all about Wagner - I assume somebody at the publishers made the link to the bicentenary. As for overgrown path, Bob Shingleton is a wonderful antidote to Norman Lebrecht...
So 2013 will bring lots of Wagner, Verdi and Britten but I doubt we will learn anything new about these composers and their works. Selfishly I am looking forward to the re-release of Jerusalem (Luisi) just because I am curious.
Others have said it better than I can but just to echo the point it seems pointless to overdose on Wagner or Verdi when they already (and quite rightly) have their place in the sun. Maybe George Lloyd is one who would merit a reassessment and I would also add Felix Draeseke, whose symphonies have enough life in them to sustain a place in the concert hall, if only concert programmers could see beyond the narrow repertoire.
As for Gesualdo the New Yorker article is a good starting point (and is basically a review of Glen Watkins biography), and if you want to sample the music I would recommend Longhini on Naxos for the madrigals...
2013 is also the centenary of Stravinsky's 'Rite of Spring' - if only we could hear it for the first time all over again.
Tue, Jan 1 2013, 2:50AM
#13
RE: doesn't anyone else see them!
Also, allow me, in the last hours of 2012, to quote a New Years wish by Neil Gaiman. The words are his, but the sentiment is mine:
"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness.
I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can.
And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."
Happy 2013!
Lovely quote, Brumas, even if the second part of the second line is the reason I'm on marriage #2.
The best of 2013 to you all.
Wed, Jan 2 2013, 7:07PM
#14
RE: Gesualdo
Thanks for the links Brumas. The Ross article is fascinating - and lurid and grisly at the same time!
That piece was also quite different - sublime in moments and yet a peculiar strain in other moments. (Not unlike the feeling I get from Penderecki's acappella choral works but not as dark). Would that chime with your own feeling about Gesualdo?
Mark
Birth of George Lloyd (June 1913) - it would be nice to see at least one of his symphonies at the Proms, but I won't hold my breath.