Jonathan Powell on Sorabji; Music Matters, Sat 6/5/17

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Prior to his performances of Sorabji's Opus Clavicembalisticum and the publication of his recording of Sorabji's Sequenza Cyclica on the Toccata Classics label later in the year, pianist/composer Jonathan Powell discusses with Tom Service his relationship with this Music. (Starts at 36mins 29secs, but the rest of the programme is well worth listening to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08ny5ck#play

[Serial_Apologist]

Missed it, so thanks aplenty, ferney.

[ahinton]

Prior to his performances of Sorabji's Opus Clavicembalisticum and the publication of his recording of Sorabji's Sequenza Cyclica on the Toccata Classics label later in the year, pianist/composer Jonathan Powell discusses with Tom Service his relationship with this Music. (Starts at 36mins 29secs, but the rest of the programme is well worth listening to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08ny5ck#play

Many thanks for the link to this, to which I've listened (I was hoping to do so live but had to wait). Jonathan premièred Sorabji's monumental (even by his own standards) 1948-49 Sequentia Cyclica super Dies Iræ (dedicated to Egon Petri) in Glasgow in 2010 and I attended this phenomenal performance, as I have several of his other Sorabji performances. It has to be said that no one has ever done as much for so much of this composer's work as has Jonathan; the sheer brilliance, intelligence and perception that he's brought to his compelling Sorabji performances are peerless. He now has some 30 hours' worth of Sorabji's piano writing under his fingers, from the piano parts to some of his songs for soprano and piano (with Sarah Leonard and Loré Lixenberg) to this massive Sequentia; he began to record some of them for the American Altarus label in the early years of this century and they're all still available.

[Bryn]

Many thanks for the link to this, to which I've listened (I was hgoping to do so live but had to wait). Jonathan premièred Sorabji's monumental (even by his own standards) 1948-49 Sequentia Cyclica super Dies Iræ (dedicated to Egon Petri) in Glasgow in 2010 ... .

The public premièr, yes, but you, I and a few luck others were at an earlier private performance he gave in Wimbledon, a performance which is engrained on my memory, both organic and silicon.

[ahinton]

The public premièr, yes, but you, I and a few luck others were at an earlier private performance he gave in Wimbledon, a performance which is engrained on my memory, both organic and silicon.

Your memory deceives you; I most sadly couldn't attend that private performance in Wimbledon, although JOnathan did give me a privatge performance of Part 1 sometime before that. The first time I heard the work as a whole was at the Glasgow public première.

But these are all incidental details in the context of the fact that Jonathan has performed it in its entirety and subsequently recorded it for the excellent Toccata Classics label in the venue in Oxford in which he'll be about to finish OC a week from now - I do hope that you can make that and that we can meet there!

[Bryn]

Sorry, you must have been at the Wimbledon performance in spirit only. The super-cooled vodka was wonderful. I will not be able to make the Oxford performance but I have every intention of being at the Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel next Tuesday for the 17:30 start. I have booked a day off to attend.

[ahinton]

Sorry, you must have been at the Wimbledon performance in spirit only. The super-cooled vodka was wonderful. I will not be able to make the Oxford performance but I have every intention of being at the Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel next Tuesday for the 17:30 start. I have booked a day off to attend.

I was indeed there in spirit although sadly not that particular one that you mention! Sorry that you can't make Oxford, not least because I'm equally sorry that I can't make London on Tuesday. Enjoy!

[Beef Oven!]

Sorry, you must have been at the Wimbledon performance in spirit only. The super-cooled vodka was wonderful. I will not be able to make the Oxford performance but I have every intention of being at the Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel next Tuesday for the 17:30 start. I have booked a day off to attend.

Sadly, I can’t make it (I fully intended go to the London gig). I have some sciatica type issue and I’m in agony 24/7 - the Edgard Varèse immersion day today was just about do-able. One can easily shift around in one’s seat or even yelp with pain when there is an orchestra of 140 musicians playing molto fortissimo. Somehow, I don’t see it working out at a Sorabji solo piano gig.

I’m absolutely gutted. OC is orgasmic and Jonathan Powell is a total f^C$*@g star!!!

[Bryn]

Sorry to hear of your discomfort, for which I hope you have sought suitable medical advice.

Sadly, I can’t make it (I fully intended go to the London gig). I have some sciatica type issue and I’m in agony 24/7 - the Edgard Varèse immersion day today was just about do-able. One can easily shift around in one’s seat or even yelp with pain when there is an orchestra of 140 musicians playing molto fortissimo. Somehow, I don’t see it working out at a Sorabji solo piano gig. ...

Oh, I don't know. You could join Jonathan's vocalisations in a duet.

[Beef Oven!]

Sorry to hear of your discomfort, for which I hope you have sought suitable medical advice.

Thanks, indeed I have.

Oh, I don't know. You could join Jonathan's vocalisations in a duet.

No way, JP is scary! You should see his reaction to a young page-turner who turned the page early! I was only a few yards away and wanted to run for cover! (ask ahinton)

[Serial_Apologist]

Thanks, indeed I have.







No way, JP is scary! You should see his reaction to a young page-turner who turned the page early! I was only a few yards away and wanted to run for cover! (ask ahinton)

I was at a gig where I can't recall who the pianist was performed some Xenakis and Carter. Keith Tippett, whose band Mujician had been on earlier, was the page turner, and it looked a nightmare job from where I was sitting. Afterwards I asked him what the scores were like. "Flyshit", he answered!

[Beef Oven!]

I was at a gig where I can't recall who the pianist was performed some Xenakis and Carter. Keith Tippett, whose band Mujician had been on earlier, was the page turner, and it looked a nightmare job from where I was sitting. Afterwards I asked him what the scores were like. "Flyshit", he answered!

[ahinton]

Thanks, indeed I have.







No way, JP is scary! You should see his reaction to a young page-turner who turned the page early! I was only a few yards away and wanted to run for cover! (ask ahinton)

Ah, yes, I remember it well (as the song goes)...