Pieces Not Fit for Purpose

[Flosshilde]

Hmmm... I had to remind myself of the difference. This is about right, I think: "Unlike parody, pastiche celebrates, rather than mocks, the work it imitates". And I did intend to reflect Mr Barrett's generosity of spirit with his tribute paragraph - so I'll stick with 'pastiche' unless he indicates otherwise!

[Flosshilde]

Don't know how the downgrading of Pluto has affected the astrological community,

Probably in the same way as its discovery did.

[ahinton]

Most definitely.

Still can't think of another example of what I mean but I can think of one that is sort of what I mean but in a different way. The piece Colin Matthews composed for Pluto as an addition to Holst's Planets suite.

I think that did not fit the purpose in that it did not match Holst's style. A hell of a job to follow Neptune, in fact I would state an impossible job, therefore I certainly admire his attempt but I would have thought, being as was also an authority on Holst, that he would have been able to immitate his style better. It sounds more like, well, Scriabin perhaps. There are tinges of Holst like the use of the celesta, but not used like Holst would use it. A very good use of the wordless choir at the end and that does remind me of Holst but overall I think it's a great piece on its own but not a contender for Pluto as an addition to Holst's Planets suite.

But then what was the initial intended "purpose" of The Planets in the first place? After all, it was originally going to be called Seven Pieces for Large Orchestra and that title appeared on the ms. full score; it is widely believed that Holst had attended a performance of Schönberg's Fünf Orchesterstücke, Op. 16 in 1914 (as did Sorabji, coincidentally) and he acquired a score of it,so might the purpose of this orchestal suite have changed between hatch and despatch?

[Richard Barrett]

I'm saying nothing. Except I forgot the gratuitous mention of Sorabji.

[ahinton]

I'm saying nothing. Except I forgot the gratuitous mention of Sorabji.

What was gratuitous about this en passant reference to Sorabji that you seem not, after all, to have forgotten, hence your mention of it here?

Anyway, back to the topic of pieces - rather than allegedly gratuitous mentions - that are supposedly not fit for purpose...

[MrGongGong]

Anyway, back to the topic of pieces - rather than allegedly gratuitous mentions - that are supposedly not fit for purpose...

There is a piece by Elgar that has the effect on me of making me extremely unlikely to call for a priest on my deathbed

(does that count?)

Steve Montague's Slow Dance on a Burial Ground doesn't get my feet tapping
and I once went to a performance of Harrison Birtwistle's Endless Parade where the music stopped and we clapped the players... hopelessly unfit for any cetaceans

[pastoralguy]

There is a piece by Elgar that has the effect on me of making me extremely unlikely to call for a priest on my deathbed

(does that count?)

No.

[ahinton]

There is a piece by Elgar that has the effect on me of making me extremely unlikely to call for a priest on my deathbed

Which of the Pomp & Circumstance Marches is that, then?

[Bryn]

WHich of the Pomp & Circumstance Marches is that, then?

Woof, woof.

[jean]

And here, right on cue:


How do you describe a teaspoon in music?

The Listening Service

Can you describe a teaspoon in music? Why would you even want to? Tom Service explores how music is able to tell stories in sound

[ahinton]

And here, right on cue:


How do you describe a teaspoon in music?

The Listening Service

Can you describe a teaspoon in music? Why would you even want to? Tom Service explores how music is able to tell stories in sound

Do you think tht Tom might just have been stirring it?

[NatBalance]

And here, right on cue:

[url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07f6mh4]
How do you describe a teaspoon in music?

Oh excellent. What every musician needs to know. Well spotted Jean. Actually I've got all this series set to record.

But then what was the initial intended "purpose" of The Planets in the first place?

How a piece evolved from conception is interesting but I think it's the finished product that has the most relevance to this debate. If anyone can think of a better title for this thread then let's hear it / read it.

[MrGongGong]

Talking of tea
We can have this (the only Beatles tune I have knowingly bought ....and in this version)

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

Or even the seminal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RkbsR_lReo

[Serial_Apologist]

Talking of tea
We can have this (the only Beatles tune I have knowingly bought ....and in this version)


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

In the first part of that Lucier manages to make it sound like a missing piece from Janacek's "In the Mists"!

[ahinton]

I'm saying nothing. Except I forgot the gratuitous mention of Sorabji.

What was gratuitous about this en passant reference to Sorabji that you seem not, after all, to have forgotten, hence your mention of it here?

Evidently nothing; well, that's a relief, I suppose. Perhaps that's how it got (non?)-forgotten...