Essential Classics - The Continuing Debate

[ChrisBennell]

Next Thursday 7th Jan - according to the Radio Times -

"Rob investigates the Renaissance period with the help of a recording by the musician and early music expert David Munrow"

Is this a sign that things are looking up?

[french frank]

"Rob investigates the Renaissance period with the help of a recording by the musician and early music expert David Munrow"

Is this a sign that things are looking up?

Certainly keeping Rob on his toes - guest Roxanna Panufnik speaking about one of her own works, followed by a feature on David Munrow.

[subcontrabass]

Certainly keeping Rob on his toes - guest Roxanna Panufnik speaking about one of her own works, followed by a feature on David Munrow.

And two "cutting edges"...

[Bax-of-Delights]

And two "cutting edges"...

Well, the excerpts that S M-P announces as "cutting edge" in that oft-repeated advert sounds like the kind of thing I was listening to on ECM 30 years ago.

[Nick Armstrong]

LOL - another 'music backwards' piece that sounds almost identical backwards as forwards

Just working on a "suggestion to email" in - trying to make sure it's anatomically feasible...

[Bax-of-Delights]

LOL - another 'music backwards' piece that sounds almost identical backwards as forwards

I am two rooms away from the radio - we keep the music on in the kitchen just to keep the sprouts happy - and I just heard at the extremity of my hearing what I assumed was RC's little quiz. I thought "Rite of Spring innit" and surely he isn't asking "what is this piece played backward"?

Oh lordy, lordy!

[Bryn]

Some excellent Bartok recordings this morning, plus an extra dollop of Miraculous Mandarin via that dreadful mish-mash of undigested Copland, Britten, Bartok et al, The Confession of Isobel Gowdie.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Some excellent Bartok recordings this morning, plus an extra dollop of Miraculous Mandarin via that dreadful mish-mash of undigested Copland, Britten, Bartok et al, The Confession of Isobel Gowdie.

Yes - I have previously thought quite highly of JMacM's early scores (in contrast to the dreary rewritings of them that has been his subsequent output) but hearing this this morning changed my attitude: a miss-mash of El Salon Mexico, the string writing from Phaedra and all the emotional intellect of a three-year-old throwing a strop. An inadequate response to the horrific events which "inspired" its composition, I felt.

[french frank]

"My favourite... British light music. Throughout the week Rob shares some of his favourite light music by British composers. He features musical treats including Ronald Binge's classic Elizabethan Serenade …" Musical trites?

I don't even listen to the programme and I'm getting fed up with the obigatory photo of the bepullovered Rob hugging his guest. Not sure what emoticon to use ? or ?

[Victor Meldrew II]

Hurrah for British light music but for heaven's sake, please get RC off the bloody station!

"My favourite... British light music. Throughout the week Rob shares some of his favourite light music by British composers. He features musical treats including Ronald Binge's classic Elizabethan Serenade …" Musical trites?

I don't even listen to the programme and I'm getting fed up with the obigatory photo of the bepullovered Rob hugging his guest. Not sure what emoticon to use ? or ?

[ahinton]

Yes - I have previously thought quite highly of JMacM's early scores (in contrast to the dreary rewritings of them that has been his subsequent output) but hearing this this morning changed my attitude: a miss-mash of El Salon Mexico, the string writing from Phaedra and all the emotional intellect of a three-year-old throwing a strop. An inadequate response to the horrific events which "inspired" its composition, I felt.

Hmmm - and then there was the fourth symphony; what might you suppose to have happened to him and why?

[ahinton]

Some excellent Bartok recordings this morning, plus an extra dollop of Miraculous Mandarin via that dreadful mish-mash of undigested Copland, Britten, Bartok et al, The Confession of Isobel Gowdie.

Just as revenge is a dish best served cold (or so it is said), perhaps confessions are best left undigested (especially if some of them might risk causing indigestion)...

[ahinton]

bepullovered

I'm trying to imagine him being pulled over on the M1 for speeding...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Hmmm - and then there was the fourth symphony; what might you suppose to have happened to him and why?

I don't know - it strikes me as a huge talent stretched beyond its means, and being commissioned far too often to enable him to "take stock" and contemplate how his skill might develop. He will, of course, be indifferent to criticism from a listener who does not share his general outlook - and he has admirers aplenty who are far more impressed with his work than I am (or have ever been); but I think that these very admirers have overburdened him, pressing his Music into a mould that does not allow movement into other ways of thinking; other means of expression.

[ahinton]

Hurrah for British light music

That might depend on the particular definition of "light" - or maybe "lite", in certain such cases - but in times gone by this kind of thing might have found its way onto what was then called the "Light Programme" and, since Radio 2 more or less replaced it almost half a century ago (and has survived as such for around twice as long as did its predecessor), the words writing and wall seem to spring unbidden to mind; I imagine that no such music found its way onto what was once the "Third Programme" and was rebranded as the present Radio 3 not long after the "Light Programme" morphed into Radio 2 and one might therefore wonder why some of it is finding its way there now. Somehow I am unconvinced that Boulez would have approved - but then I'm no fan of Binge listening, aural Wood-chips (be they Haydnesque or Arthurian) or Torch-carrying for Sidney myself and would likely be found Curzon were R3 to make this a habit, even if only on Inessential Crass-ics.

I'll get me Coates...