Arditti Quartet at 40 - Episode 2

[teamsaint]

I would love to hear a good performance of Gerhard's Third Symphony. The only recording I know which gives the electronic materials enough presence, as opposed to apologetically putting them in the background is the one conducted by Victor Pablo Pérez, but unfortunately it also needs a virtuoso orchestra which he doesn't really have. Most of his work has been recorded at least once by now, I would think. Another recent acquisition of mine was a recording of his music for mixed chamber ensembles (Libra, Gemini, Leo, Concerto for 8) by Collegium Novum Zürich, which I recommend highly.

I have the latest Arditti Ferneyhough set as well but haven't had the opportunity to listen to it properly yet. Another of my favourite Arditti recordings is the one of Kagel's (at the time) three string quartets plus a little piece called Pan which adds a piccolo.

The Kagel disc can be heard in full here.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=N-DIal25XpM

[Black Swan]

I am having a listen to
Brian Ferneyhough 1
Ariditti Quartet

2nd String quartet
Adagissimo for String Quintet
3rd String Quartet
Sonatas for String Quartet

I purchased this come time ago and had forgotten I had the recording. I am also wondering about the Jonathan Harvey String Quartets. Any forum members have an opinion on the Quartets or the recording?

[Blotto]

30 days or 7?

- blink, and you've missed it forever. Unless you've "illegally" downloaded it.

Is it not still the case that home recording is quite legit but that sharing the recording is the thing not permitted?

James Clarke

On the subject of James Clarke himself, he has - if you haven't seen it - an extensive catalogue of pieces on his Soundcloud page. As it happens, this now includes a new piece "2014-Q": https://soundcloud.com/james-clarke-01

It appears to have been premiered by the Atlas Ensemble in the Netherlands only a fortnight ago: http://www.atlasensemble.nl/news.html

[Richard Barrett]

I am also wondering about the Jonathan Harvey String Quartets. Any forum members have an opinion on the Quartets or the recording?

A lot of people seem to be keen on the Fourth Quartet, which I've never seen eye to eye with - when JH used (particularly real-time) electronics I have the feeling he didn't pay as much attention as otherwise to coherence and structural discipline in his music. However, the Second is one of my favourite twentieth-century quartets. Some will remember it appearing on what must have been the Ardittis' first release, and LP on RCA which also featured Ferneyhough's Second and one of the Carter quartets. The Harvey piece was always the one for me out of those three.

[Quarky]

But, Blotto - why should I "listen to their reactions"? Does any other audience enthusiastic for a particular type of Music feel any such obligation? If they are "bored and oppressed" then that's their privilege and their problem. If they express an interest in my enthusiasm for something they don't like, that's another matter - but the blazes with anyone who thinks this "resembles rules":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCaOfEax8MM

EDIT: or the Xenakis in RB's link!

YouTube has a compilation of 50+ videos for Ferneyhough: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCaOf...aOfEax8MM#t=28

I will be interested to see how many Ferneyhough pieces are played, before we revert, as usual with these compilations, to totally unrelated items, Frank Sinatra, Mozart, etc.

[ahinton]

YouTube has a compilation of 50+ videos for Ferneyhough: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCaOf...aOfEax8MM#t=28

I will be interested to see how many Ferneyhough pieces are played, before we revert, as usual with these compilations, to totally unrelated items, Frank Sinatra, Mozart, etc.

There are at least a dozen plus an interview; OK, it's way short of "50+" but at least it's something!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

YouTube has a compilation of 50+ videos for Ferneyhough: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCaOf...aOfEax8MM#t=28

I will be interested to see how many Ferneyhough pieces are played, before we revert, as usual with these compilations, to totally unrelated items, Frank Sinatra, Mozart, etc.

??? I don't understand your point here, Oddy.

[Quarky]

Well Ferney, I have to admit to a habit of playing these YouTube compilations for well known Jazz/ Pop artists, such as Coltrane, Nat King Cole. Frequently there is not played more than two or three tracks by the artist in question, before the complilation is corrupted, deliberately or not, and we hear music that "you might also like to hear" from somebody else.

[Quarky]

........I see a clarinet concerto by Goodman has crept in - no not that Goodman, but somebody down in South Florida! I hope this compilation is not spoilt; I am finding it extremely useful in getting to know Ferneyhough's music, that coupled with the score synced with the music.

Strange thing is despite it being difficult to imagine more complex scores (compared to which the Webern piece in the compilation seems completely elementary), the music itself is (relatively) easy listening compared to Xenakis, Birtwistle.

Was attracted to the Time and Motion study for Bass Clarinet. If this had not been rigidly scored, i would have assumed it was something from the Improv/ Free Jazz scene!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Was attracted to the Time and Motion study for Bass Clarinet. If this had not been rigidly scored, i would have assumed it was something from the Improv/ Free Jazz scene!

The first work I ever heard by BF (on a Music in Our Time broadcast in September 1980). You're not wrong with the "Free Jazz" reference - when the BRIDGE CD of the solo Flute works (played by Kolbeinn Bjarnason) was first released, there was I think a single (and baffled) review in the "Classical" record review magazines (and there was a couple more of them in those days), whereas the Jazz publications discussed it sensibly and with considerable insight. This was what started my listening to Jazz more regularly and seriously - just as BF's references to The Eton Choirbook sparked my knowledge and subsequent adoration of this repertoire. As well as his own Music, I have so much else for which to be grateful to BF!


"Rigid" isn't quite how I'd describe the score of Ferneyhough's Music. Whilst the written scores are obviously an ideeal to which every performer should aspire, there are such layers of difficulty that it isn't feasable (yet!) for any performer to get everything in one performance. The player(s) have to get as far into the Music as meets their individual capabilities and which they regard as the most important aspects they wish to present to listeners. Nothing different from Bach, then, except that the notation presents a continual challenge to a performer even if they've played the piece several times before - the notation is like a map of Spaghetti Junction, but each performance takes only a single path through the work. The next performance might decide to emphasise a different route. It can't be "rigid" because there is too much information - the performer meets the limits of his/her technique and surpasses them. (As does the receptive listener - so intenet was I at the UK premiere of the Sixth String Quartet that I had a nose bleed at the end!)