A thread for people to say whatever about that dawned Dream of Gerontius

[MrGongGong]

For those who cannot stick this piece due to the text is this due to the literary merit or lack of it of Cardinal Newman's poem or its religious nature . If the latter then surely Bach's Mass in B Minor or Mozart's Coronation Mass would be equally obnoxious to them in spite of the music ?

I don't think it's the religious nature is what grates
more the poem itself.
People believe all sorts of things and some make music connected to their beliefs.

I'm not a believer but find Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's singing wonderful.

[Ferretfancy]

When I was about ten, my uncle and aunt looked after an elderly clergyman who stayed with us for a while. After he died, I found a copy of Newman's poem in a drawer. It was bound in suede, and had a funny smell which I later realised must have been incense. Even at that age I thought it a peculiar object, and I still do. As far as the music goes, I find its strange blend of mysticism and the Victorian oratorio tradition impossible to take. I do have it on CD, the Britten version, but I only keep it for the Holst coupling.

[ahinton]

...although he already has his own bizarre prejudices against Elgar (amongst others...)

Doesn't he just! That's why I mentioned him in this particular context.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I do have it on CD, the Britten version, but I only keep it for the Holst coupling.

Britten wasn't a great Elgar fan, but he had a profound understanding of this work. It has been claimed that Britten had composer's intuition, making the same unmarked tempo change in the Prelude that was later discovered in the previously unissued recording by Elgar - something BB "couldn't have heard".

But of course Britten could have heard it, if he had attended a performance under the composer's baton.

[Ariosto]

Maybe the lunatics have taken over the asylum.

[MrGongGong]

Maybe the lunatics have taken over the asylum.

I wouldn't think that the text of DoG is by someone who wasn't without a few "issues'

Rejoyce in the Lamb is, of course, rather wonderful in it's ranting

[Ariosto]

I wouldn't think that the text of DoG is by someone who wasn't without a few "issues'

Rejoyce in the Lamb is, of course, rather wonderful in it's ranting

Agreed!

[pastoralguy]

Just listening to a wonderful performance of this work of Genius on Radio3 just now. No idea who the performers are but we'll be illuminated soon.

[MrGongGong]

Just listening to a wonderful performance of this work of Genius on Radio3 just now. No idea who the performers are but we'll be illuminated soon.

Come on
performances of this are never "wonderful"
they HAVE TO BE

Glorious

I hope you aren't seriously suggesting that the text is a "work of genius" ?

[pastoralguy]

Come on
performances of this are never "wonderful"
they HAVE TO BE

Glorious


I hope you aren't seriously suggesting that the text is a "work of genius" ?

You mean there are words in the DoG?! I was thinking about the music.

[Serial_Apologist]

You mean there are words in the DoG?! I was thinking about the music.

Just sounds - unless one confuses depiction with depicted, a common Western fallacy I always take account of when singing hyms at weddings, funerals etc.