George Benjamin (b. 1960)

[Serial_Apologist]

From Monday 7 - Friday 12 December.

A good opportunity to assess a composer once considered by many leading commentators to hold much promise, on his 60th birthday.

[Serial_Apologist]

I hope others have had a chance to listen to some at least of this week's programmes. I suppose I am in sympathy since I find George Benjamin's music probably accords as closely to my ideal of what "mainstream contemporary music" can be as is possible in today's musical world - drawing as-and-when as he does on advances in idiom and technique that represent progress, while embracing longer term principles within the "classical tradition" that still have mileage in them, and in such a way that they can be grasped by the reasonably open-minded listener. Benjamin comes across as friendly and accessible as a person too, and I find that I have had to review my earlier impression of him as being somewhat stuck up. Whether I am in sympathy with the subject matter of his operas is another matter!

[Joseph K]

I haven't listened to COTW but your enthusiasm, SA, is enough for me to take down one of the CDs of Benjamin's music I have and listen to it - I've just found 'Into the Little Hill'. It had a thick layer of dust on it.

[Bryn]

I hope others have had a chance to listen to some at least of this week's programmes. I suppose I am in sympathy since I find George Benjamin's music probably accords as closely to my ideal of what "mainstream contemporary music" can be as is possible in today's musical world - drawing as-and-when as he does on advances in idiom and technique that represent progress, while embracing longer term principles within the "classical tradition" that still have mileage in them, and in such a way that they can be grasped by the reasonably open-minded listener. Benjamin comes across as friendly and accessible as a person too, and I find that I have had to review my earlier impression of him as being somewhat stuck up. Whether I am in sympathy with the subject matter of his operas is another matter!

I would, in general, concur with your assessment. I had a little interaction with him in the early 1980s and would confirm his affability. I do not, however, find myself much drawn to his work.

[Quarky]

I listened to much of the COTW episodes, but not sufficiently enthusiastic to give them another listen.
Some negative points:
Dance Figures - apparently sketches for choreographic works (which have never been put into practice). What was the point?
There seems to be a habit of mixing polar opposites of mood , subject matter, etc. in the same piece, overlying one another - or one after the other. Found that too difficult.
Other than that, a lot of good stuff there - just not keen enough to follow it up.

[Joseph K]

I do not, however, find myself much drawn to his work.

As I'm (re-) discovering, it is a bit bland.