Schnittke, Alfred. 1934-1998

[Mandryka]

I’ve been listening to the 6th symphony. The result is total confusion, I am all at sea with this music. What on earth was he trying to achieve here? Is it a sort of failed experiment in . . . what exactly?

[teamsaint]

I’ve been listening to the 6th symphony. The result is total confusion, I am all at sea with this music. What on earth was he trying to achieve here? Is it a sort of failed experiment in . . . what exactly?

Ok if we get back to you on this ? :)

[Mandryka]

Please forgive the long time no response, but I'd have thought the second half of the sentence, historically speaking, might have qualified the first.

I spend half my current years between Ha Noi and UK. Thank you for reminding me of the lovely "callipgous" word - my partner is delighted!

No matter!

Schnittke: The Concerto for Harp and Orchestra is one I return to again and again.

The Cello Sonatas.

The Peer Gynt ballet. A much misunderstood play, laid bare by Schnittke's music. It reveals it for the mystifying and hugely disturbing work it is.

Symphony 8 is deeply unsettling. But 9 (despite its controversial provenance and supposed completion), for me, is just an addendum to the canon. But an integral addendum.

Very good recommendation for the harp and oboe concerto - from 4 years ago but never mind!

[Mandryka]

Collage-type "polystylistic" stuff generally doesn't appeal to me, and as a result I find most of Schnittke's work quite annoying. However there are two works which I do return to: the Eighth Symphony and the Viola Concerto. I find those two so impressive that at one point a few years back I made a fairly extensive survey of his entire recorded oeuvre to see if I could find anything else as attractive to me, but I didn't.

I’m making a “fairly extensive” survey right now and I’m feeling slightly differently than you did at least to this extent - many pieces are catching my imagination. I feel he’s a composer who’s got an enquiring mind, ready to explore ideas, so I’m hearing a lot of variety.

So far, I’m happy to have heard these:

Second violin sonata
Peer Gynt
Symphony 7 - and less so 8 and 4. 6 still haunts very powerfully, but it's uncomfortable for me.
Faust Cantata
4th string quartet - and less so the 1st
Oboe and harp concerto
In memoriam for orchestra
Septet
Serenade for violin, piano, double bass, clarinet and percussion.

[teamsaint]

I’m making a “fairly extensive” survey right now and I’m feeling slightly differently than you did at least to this extent - many pieces are catching my imagination. I feel he’s a composer who’s got an enquiring mind, ready to explore ideas, so I’m hearing a lot of variety.

So far, I’m happy to have heard these:

Second violin sonata
Peer Gynt
Symphony 7 - and less so 8 and 4. 6 still haunts very powerfully, but it's uncomfortable for me.
Faust Cantata
4th string quartet - and less so the 1st
Oboe and harp concerto
In memoriam for orchestra
Septet
Serenade for violin, piano, double bass, clarinet and percussion.

Two that appealed to me the most were the Piano Quintet and the Piano Concerto. I have dug them out for another listen.

[Mandryka]

Two that appealed to me the most were the Piano Quintet and the Piano Concerto.

In memoriam for orchestra, which is on my list, is an orchestration of the piano quintet - I think a very good orchestration. The waltz is a successful use of polystylism I think - the "Viennese" music, and the contrast with the less traditional music, seems to me at least to be quite effective expressively and if anything shows off the positive qualities of the "modern -er" music.

There’s a much recorded concerto for piano and strings which I enjoyed.

[Mandryka]

I’m making a “fairly extensive” survey right now and I’m feeling slightly differently than you did at least to this extent - many pieces are catching my imagination. I feel he’s a composer who’s got an enquiring mind, ready to explore ideas, so I’m hearing a lot of variety.

So far, I’m happy to have heard these:

Second violin sonata
Peer Gynt
Symphony 7 - and less so 8 and 4. 6 still haunts very powerfully, but it's uncomfortable for me.
Faust Cantata
4th string quartet - and less so the 1st
Oboe and harp concerto
In memoriam for orchestra
Septet
Serenade for violin, piano, double bass, clarinet and percussion.

Add Symphony 2

[teamsaint]

In memoriam for orchestra, which is on my list, is an orchestration of the piano quintet - I think a very good orchestration. The waltz is a successful use of polystylism I think - the "Viennese" music, and the contrast with the less traditional music, seems to me at least to be quite effective expressively and if anything shows off the positive qualities of the "modern -er" music.

There’s a much recorded concerto for piano and strings which I enjoyed.

The concerto for Piano and Strings was the one I had in mind. Not sure if there are any others ?
listened again last night, and I always enjoy it. There are polystylistic elements for sure.
I wonder if opinions of Schnittke are somewhat dominated by the 1st symphony which is so dramatic, but which I suspect may lack listener longevity.

[Mandryka]

I’ve been listening to the 6th symphony. The result is total confusion, I am all at sea with this music. What on earth was he trying to achieve here? Is it a sort of failed experiment in . . . what exactly?

I just listened to prologue of Prometeo (Nono) and Schnittke Symphony 6 - there’s something in common there - tension through pauses. Nono is much less ascetic - with dynamic contrasts and voice, but still . . .