Wot? No comments on Boulez?

[Lento]

Richard Morrison in today's Times describes Boulez's output as "glacially impressive and intellectually impenetrable" and wonders if it carries (or is meant to carry) any emotional substance. He refers to a sense of poet and composer (in "Pli salon pli") struggling to affirm the human condition in the face of death and unfeeling nature. (Paywall for full review).

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/music/classical/article4389714.ece

[MrGongGong]

We're all different.

I'm not

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'm not

Richard Morrison, Lento? Richard Morrison?! Commenting on Boulez? May as well get the Krankies to comment on Schopenhauer.

[MrGongGong]

Richard Morrison, Lento? Richard Morrison?! Commenting on Boulez? May as well get the Krankies to comment on Schopenhauer.

(come back Simon?)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

(come back Simon?)

Don't think so - Prof Says was much more inclined to voice his own responses() rather than quote the opinions of others.

Never really understood the "glacial" cliché that's often plucked out of the critics' file cards to describe Boulez' Music (and conducting) - it's white-hot.

[Richard Barrett]

Did anyone hear the Boulez programme on R3 last night?

No, and I'm feeling pretty sick about the whole business because I'm in London now and if I'd known in advance about the Boulez day I would have come a day earlier. My own fault I suppose. It would have been fantastic to hear Pli selon pli in concert, not that I'm a big fan of Boulez the composer, which I'm not, but I do find all this "too cerebral" stuff talked about him highly tiresome - haven't these critics thought of anything fresh to say in the half-century since that piece was written? And so many people seem to listen to Boulez through the ears of these unimaginative critics instead of listening for themselves. And not only him, by any means, of course.

[Bryn]

No, and I'm feeling pretty sick about the whole business because I'm no London now and if I'd known in advance about the Boulez day I would have come a day earlier. My own fault I suppose. It would have been fantastic to hear Pli selon pli in concert, not that I'm a big fan of Boulez the composer, which I'm not, but I do find all this "too cerebral" stuff talked about him highly tiresome - haven't these critics thought of anything fresh to say in the half-century since that piece was written? And so many people seem to listen to Boulez through the ears of these unimaginative critics instead of listening for themselves. And not only him, by any means, of course.

Indeed, what first attracted me to works such as Pli selon pli, Le marteau says maitre, etc. during my teens was the sheer beauty of the sound world. Whether he wanted it or not, his music was for me crammed full of emotional evocation too.

That said, he has come out with some right howlers in his proclamations over the years.

[Lento]

Richard Morrison, Lento? Richard Morrison?! Commenting on Boulez? May as well get the Krankies to comment on Schopenhauer.

To be honest, I quoted it largely because it chimed in with my own feelings on trying to listen to Boulez (on a fairly limited number of occasions, I must admit). I should also say that the overall tone of Morrison's review seemed positive to me, especially with regard to the performance of Pli salon Pli. Ivan Hewett in the Telegraph, on the other hand, seems to suggest that Boulez was truer to his talents in his works for smaller forces, if memory serves. I'm not so sure about criticisms that he is over-intellectual as a composer; the wicked thought occurred to me that perhaps his main impact (on some of us) is as a colourist.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

... Le marteau says maitre, ...

A mere mention of Simon and look what happens...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I'm not so sure about criticisms that he is over-intellectual as a composer; the wicked thought occurred to me that perhaps his main impact (on some of us) is as a colourist.

Well, that's closer to the truth than "over-intellectual" (and only in English could such a word be even imagined let alone used) - there is sparkle, nuance and punch in this Music. Some others of us also love the fire and fury, the pacing of events, the timeless moments of playful contemplation and improvization, and (for me above all) the Harmony - a Boulez chord is as instantly identifiable as any of the other greatest composers.

Far more captivating and rewarding for me than the works of the over-stupid composers.

[Beef Oven!]

Indeed, what first attracted me to works such as Pli selon pli, Le marteau says maitre, etc. during my teens was the sheer beauty of the sound world. Whether he wanted it or not, his music was for me crammed full of emotional evocation too.

[Honoured Guest]

Far more captivating and rewarding for me than the works of the over-stupid composers.

Over-stupid is an opposite of over-intelligent, and not of over-intellectual.

People find music over-intellectual if they believe that it can only be properly appreciated on an intellectual level.

[Bryn]

Following a welcome response from Andrew Gilfillan to my fault alert, all four Boulez at 90 programmes have now been made available in full via the iPlayer Listen Again facility.

[Lento]

there is sparkle, nuance and punch in this Music. Some others of us also love the fire and fury, the pacing of events, the timeless moments of playful contemplation and improvization, and (for me above all) the Harmony - a Boulez chord is as instantly identifiable as any of the other greatest composers.

Whatever one's feelings (so far) about Boulez, it is good to hear some specific positives to listen out for.

[Richard Barrett]

That said.said, he has come out with some right howlers in his proclamations over the years.

As David Hockney sagely put it: "never believe what an artist says, only what he does."