The Gesualdo Legacy: EMS 6 November

[doversoul1]

Fiona Talkington looks at the legacy of Carlo Gesualdo and the fascination that his life and music held for certain 20th century cultural figures, including composers Igor Stravinsky and Peter Maxwell Davies, novelist Aldous Huxley and film maker Werner Herzog. The programme includes an interview with Professor Glenn Watkins, who has written extensively about Gesualdo's life, work and influence.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b081t4qp

[Bryn]

Fiona Talkington looks at the legacy of Carlo Gesualdo and the fascination that his life and music held for certain 20th century cultural figures, including composers Igor Stravinsky and Peter Maxwell Davies, novelist Aldous Huxley and film maker Werner Herzog. The programme includes an interview with Professor Glenn Watkins, who has written extensively about Gesualdo's life, work and influence.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b081t4qp

Strange no mention there of Schnittke.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Strange no mention there of Schnittke.

Nor Sciarrino:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1x2vFj1Bl8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0TNuPkJHqo

(although the "including" might mean that they may be mentioned during the course of the programme.)

[Richard Tarleton]

This was the subject of an EMS in [?] 2010 by Catherine Bott, whose guest was, er, Glenn Watkins.

[Richard Barrett]

Nor Sciarrino

I just had a listen to Le voci sottovetro and thought to myself that actually every "modernisation" of Gesualdo that I've heard, whether by Sciarrino, Stravinsky or anyone else, comes over as somehow tame compared to the originals. I think it has to do with intonation and the homogeneous sound of "modern" instruments.

[doversoul1]

This was the subject of an EMS in [?] 2010 by Catherine Bott, whose guest was, er, Glenn Watkins.

This was in 2013. Catherine Bott talks to er… Professor Glenn Watkins

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b039p15j

This latest programme was interesting but I didn’t find Prof. Watkins a very good radio speaker.

The programme made me want to listen to more works by Gesualdo but not, I’m afraid those by the modern composers. These works may be interesting on their own but when there is the expectation of being something like or something to do with Gesualdo, to me, they are just not extraordinary enough..

I found the Hilliard a bit polite.

[Richard Tarleton]

This was in 2013. Catherine Bott talks to er… Professor Glenn Watkins

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b039p15j

This latest programme was interesting but I didn’t find Prof. Watkins a very good radio speaker.

The programme made me want to listen to more works by Gesualdo but not, I’m afraid those by the modern composers. These works may be interesting on their own but when there is the expectation of being something like or something to do with Gesualdo, to me, they are just not extraordinary enough..

I found the Hilliard a bit polite.

Yes, couldn't remember the date, Watkins's fascinating book (The Gesualdo Hex, which I bought on the strength of the programme) was published in 2010. Good to know that for someone in Gesualdo's position, offing your wife and her lover, far from being reprehensible, was socially obligatory in the circs

I have the Hilliards' Tenebrae on EMS (complete with EMS's trademark impenetrable notes and posy B&W photography), plus the Madrigals on Naxos. Extraordinary music. Not sure I find the Hilliards polite....having seen them live in St David's Cathedral with Jan Garbarek (not doing Gesualdo) I find them quite edgy, really.

[Old Grumpy]

I have the Hilliards' Tenebrae on EMS (complete with EMS's trademark impenetrable notes and posy B&W photography), plus the Madrigals on Naxos. Extraordinary music. Not sure I find the Hilliards polite....having seen them live in St David's Cathedral with Jan Garbarek (not doing Gesualdo) I find them quite edgy, really.

EMS? Shurely shome mishtake?

ECM - from the description


OG

P.S. I think I have this too somewhere - ECM it will be

[Richard Tarleton]

EMS? Shurely shome mishtake?

ECM - from the description


OG



P.S. I think I have this too somewhere - ECM it will be

ECM it is! The other characteristic of their discs is that you're lucky to get much more than 45 minutes to a disc

[Quarky]

Won't say I enjoyed the programme - it was too much of an earful and packed with information to permit relaxation.

But it was for me a significant programme, and I will probably listen to it several times. It may partially clarify as to why I like "modern" music and "early" music, but these days not much in between.

[ardcarp]

IMO, one of the best groups specialising in the extremes of Gesualdo is Exaudi. They also specialise in contempoaray music, especially that of Finnissy and of their director James Weeks. So they might be right up your street, Oddball.

[Quarky]

IMO, one of the best groups specialising in the extremes of Gesualdo is Exaudi. They also specialise in contempoaray music, especially that of Finnissy and of their director James Weeks. So they might be right up your street, Oddball.

Many thanks for the tip. ardcarp. That seems a fruitful source for investigation!

https://soundcloud.com/exaudivocal/finnissy-gesualdo-libro-sesto?in=exaudivocal/sets/exaudi-sounds

[Quarky]

There is a Discovering Music episode, which I am currently listening to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01zvpkr

Gesualdo / Exaudi - the programme seems a grade above Fiona's.

[Serial_Apologist]

The programme made me want to listen to more works by Gesualdo but not, I’m afraid those by the modern composers. These works may be interesting on their own but when there is the expectation of being something like or something to do with Gesualdo, to me, they are just not extraordinary enough..

I found the Hilliard a bit polite.

You are a difficult person to please, DS!

[doversoul1]

You are a difficult person to please, DS!

...to be ignored