Whitacre, Eric (b 1970)

[ahinton]

CE Bath Abbey
January 2011 Archive


Order of Service:


Introit: Lux aurumque (Eric Whitacre)

Now, what was it that Malcolm Williamson once said of Andrew Lloyd Webber? Ah, yes; "Andrew Lloyd Webber's music is everywhere, but so is...". I wonder what he'd have said about Mr Whitacre?

[light_calibre_baritone]

Now, what was it that Malcolm Williamson once said of Andrew Lloyd Webber? Ah, yes; "Andrew Lloyd Webber's music is everywhere, but so is...". I wonder what he'd have said about Mr Whitacre?

BOOM! And there it is - let's all slag off Whitacre. You're all so predictable and up your own chuffs.

I see no fault in creating a sound world that's popular and accessible to so many musicians, be that amateurs, pros, schools, etc. Your blasting of him is unthought through and narrow minded. He, like Rutter, has made choral music popular for many who would usually be turned away by its perceived snobby image (clearly alive and well).

Open your mind ahinton to other styles and approaches, but if you don't like it (having tried them out first), why not write something that's had a little more thought put into it?

Looking forward to Bath Abbey - excellent top line that puts many cathedrals to shame!

[jonfan]

BOOM! And there it is - let's all slag off Whitacre. You're all so predictable and up your own chuffs.

I see no fault in creating a sound world that's popular and accessible to so many musicians, be that amateurs, pros, schools, etc. Your blasting of him is unthought through and narrow minded. He, like Rutter, has made choral music popular for many who would usually be turned away by its perceived snobby image (clearly alive and well).

Open your mind ahinton to other styles and approaches, but if you don't like it (having tried them out first), why not write something that's had a little more thought put into it?

Looking forward to Bath Abbey - excellent top line that puts many cathedrals to shame!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

You're all so predictable and up your own chuffs.

Is that better or worse than being up somebody else's?

He, like Rutter, has made choral music popular for many who would usually be turned away by its perceived snobby image (clearly alive and well).

So - after singing in Whitacre and Rutter, these "many" then go on to the Missa Solemnis and the B minor Mass, rather than/in addition to more Rutter, Whitaker? Excellent.

Open your mind ahinton to other styles and approaches, but if you don't like it (having tried them out first), why not write something that's had a little more thought put into it?

ahinton has already written a great deal of Music that has considerably "more thought put into it" than a conductor could shake a stick at - but you know this already, of course. After all, you wouldn't be so snobbish as to comment on Music that you hadn't heard; nor so closed-minded as to comment on other styles and approaches to Music that you didn't find congenial, would you?

[Chris Watson]

I'd love to hear some of ahinton's music. Where might I find some? I remember the first session of the Polyphony Whitacre disc (15 or 16 years ago?). It was like a breath of fresh air. Something totally different and wonderful, lovely to sing and mesmerising to listen to. How often does that happen? Not very, in my not unlimited experience. I think the main problem with Eric's music is not what he has written (I'm yet to find a piece I don't like, and some I love) but that many younger composers have chosen to try to copy his sound world rather than find their own. He really did come up with something wonderful, and despite all his fame has remained a delightful chap who oozes enthusiasm for music of all kinds and is lovely to work for.

[Richard Barrett]

You're all so predictable and up your own chuffs.

Wow, so this is how discussions of choral music go here! Outstanding. Having said that, starting a thread just in order to slag off a composer seems to me pointless.

[MrGongGong]

Nothing wrong with people singing
but i'm not 100% convinced by EW's approach to contemporary music "lite"
and after his ridiculous comments on BBC4 a couple of years ago about "atonality" I find him hard to take seriously
It's a shame that those composers who invented the processes he is happy to use with abandon are so little known

Co-incidentally I caught this on R3 yesterday which is a fine example of one of these processes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foyQDp74vNY

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'd love to hear some of ahinton's music. Where might I find some?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Quintet-Leonard-Barcham-Stevens-Andrade-Stirling/dp/B00006LEO1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Piano-Solo-Instrumental/Memoriam-John-Ogdon-Organ-Recital-Ronald-Stevenson/B000003IYB

... which, alas, seems to be the only commercially available discs that include his work. The String Quintet is a work I never tire of hearing, nor of recommending to anyone who hasn't heard it.

Scores/Sheet Music are also available (no Music for choir, it seems - something I hadn't noticed before):

http://www.sorabji-archive.co.uk/hinton/scores.php

[Bryn]

I'd love to hear some of ahinton's music. Where might I find some?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

... starting a thread just in order to slag off a composer seems to me pointless.

In fairness, the OP was originally in the middle of another Thread devoted to a Choral Evensong (can't think why you missed it ) featuring a piece by Mr Whitacre. It was deemed less detracting from the rest of that Thread to remove the Whitacre posts to a separate area.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Oh, bravo, Bryn. (I though AH disapproved of youTube, so didn't check.)

[Chris Watson]

Thanks! Never heard of him (sorry) but will make an effort to find a recording. Been listening to Bridge quartets recently, whch I am enjoying very much.

[oddoneout]

So - after singing in Whitaker and Rutter, these "many" then go on to the Missa Solemnis and the B minor Mass, rather than/in addition to more Rutter, Whitaker? Excellent.

Possibly not. But if they continue, thanks to Rutter and Whitacre in part, to enjoy their singing then they have the opportunity to encounter other composers. By the same token if audiences continue to like listening to Whitacre and Rutter and so come to concerts that allows the possibility to hear other(better in the view of some) choral music that may be in the programme.
I have not sung any Whitacre, but know that he has the ability to appeal to people who wouldn't in the usual run of things listen to 'classical', and especially not choral, music. I'm not sure that should be dismissed lightly.

[vinteuil]

.

Richard Clayderman had lovely hair too.

[jean]

...Having said that, starting a thread just in order to slag off a composer seems to me pointless.

Are you sure this thread wasn't calved from the Bath Abbey one?