Sally Beamish: COTW Mon 6 - Fri 11 July

[Serial_Apologist]

At last, a contemporary composer to whose music I find myself totally attuned!

I've loved Sally's music, and her personality, ever since hearing her Violin Concerto, possibly its premiere, 20 years ago. She writes what sounds like some kind of 12-tone music - the sort that I would compose had I the ability and imagination, in feel somehow halfway between late Debussy and Schoenberg - psychologically of greater depth than the former while being more open-air than the latter - but with more than a dash of jazz (which she too loves) and improvisation in it.

[ardcarp]

Indeed. 'Proper' composition in my book, and elegant craftsmanship in instrumentation. Very much enjoying CotW so far this week. (Not sure about the 12-tone bit though!) I was amused when she says she writes more prolifically when she's busy doing lots of other stuff rather than just concentrating on being 'a composer'. (Or words to that effect.)

[CallMePaul]

I used to think that Sally Beamish was one of those composers who could be accused of writing the same work several times, but greater familiarity with her music over the years has led me to revise that view.

I was surprised to hear yesterday that this COTW is a repeat from 2012 (why so many repeats in this slot? Cost-cutting?). This obviously means that her more recent works will not be heard; in addition, so far only commercial recordings seem to have been played. The BBC has recordings of several Beamish works that have not had commercial recordings and it would have been good to hear some of these. One that comes to mind is [I]Knotgrass Elegy[I], which was a Proms commission a few years back. To my knowledge it has received no further performances. I do recall that some critics pilloried it at the time of its premiere, but maybe it is due for a reassessment? An excerpt would have been welcome to enable listeners to hear this significant but largely forgotten work and to get the composer's reaction to it.

[DracoM]

It's been a joy to have a real challenge in COTW. Sally Beamish's music and her manner were delightfully refreshing. Delighted to get away from acres of standard 19th century music / composers.

[ardcarp]

Delighted to get away from acres of standard 19th century music / composers.

And from the Identikit 21st century ones!!!