H&N, 19/11/16: Huddersfield 2016, Episode 1

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

In the first of six programmes from what is rather ambiguously described on the BBC website as the UK's largest annual international festival of new music in Huddersfield Robert Worby and Sara Mohr-Pietsche introduce a Live broadcast of the UK premiere of Georg Friederich Haas' Hyena, performed by Klangforum Wien, with writer Mollena Williams (the composer's wife) narrating her own text.

This is then followed by the World Premier of Haas' tenth String Quartet, performed by the Ardittis.

The remainder of the programme consists of excerpts from a concert earlier in the afternoon in which soloists from Ensemble Musikabrik perform works for solo instruments by Haas, Liza Lim, Rebecca Saunders, John Zorn, George Lewis, Enno Poppe, and Michael Bell.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0831957

goodygoodygoodygooodygoodygoodygoodygoodygooodygoo dygoodygoodygoodygooodygoodygoodygoodygoodygooodyg oodygoodygoodygoody!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The website says "Episode 1 of five", and performances from the Festival (which starts this afternoon) take up the H&N schedules from now, over Christmas, and into the New Year. But there's also going to be a further item (Colin Stetson's Sorrow - a Re-Imagining of Gorecki's 3rd Symphony) broadcast in the edition of 11th March, 2017.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

As so often with this composer, I feel that I might have missed something that others are enthusiastic about. Unfair, perhaps, to comment on a audio-only experience of Hyena - but this was all the radio permitted (BBC4 Live at HCMF - they don't know they're born on that parallel universe). I couldn't hear any reason for the occasional splodges of sound between the (much more involving and Musical) presentation of the spoken text - nor, in the absence of this, could I find much to enjoy in the non-reasoned Music. The audience at Huddersfield seemed to appreciate it much more than I did, so something was lost between performance, broadcast, and my ears.

The 10th S4tet was more listenable-to: intentionally so, with the composer's recommendation that the work be heard in total darkness. It sounded rather semi-familiar to me - nothing in it that hasn't been done before (and I did wonder if the comment along the lines that "it sounds like an Arditti piece" was meant entirely as a compliment) even if it was all rather well done in this piece.

Somebody please contradict me and point out all the obvious (or subtle) things I've missed!

[Richard Barrett]

What you're saying chimes with everything I've heard so far by Haas (and what is this "total darkness" thing of his all about?) so I don't think I'm going to bother with this part of the broadcast. There must be some interesting stuff among the solo pieces though.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

There must be some interesting stuff among the solo pieces though.

Solo piece, as it turned out - I think Hyena went on longer than programmed, so there was just room for a piano piece by Jo Kondo.

On the whole, a (re)-listen to the Dillon and Sciarrino works from the past few weeks seems a better use of the i-Player.

[Orphical]

Solo piece, as it turned out - I think Hyena went on longer than programmed, so there was just room for a piano piece by Jo Kondo.

On the whole, a (re)-listen to the Dillon and Sciarrino works from the past few weeks seems a better use of the i-Player.

I wasn't fully engaged with the first piece i'm afraid, just not my cup of tea? I thought the quartet a little more interesting but it did remind me of 'In Vain.' Very concerned that G McKenzie found this tosh such a gripping experience!

[MrGongGong]

so there was just room for a piano piece by Jo Kondo..

In my house there is ALWAYS room for a piece by Jo Kondo

[MrGongGong]

Did anyone get to hear the Eliane Radigue ?
Or Claudia Molitor's piece for the Harry Partch instruments ?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Did anyone get to hear the Eliane Radigue ?
Or Claudia Molitor's piece for the Harry Partch instruments ?

The Radigue event (which I was really looking forward to) was a victim of my getting drenched by the rush hour traffic getting to & from St Thomas' Church - there was no way I was going to traipse around Huddersfield for four hours like that (and then sit in Bate's Motel), so had to come home.

I'm going to do a review of this year's festival once it's over - I think, performance-wise, it's been a real cracker!

[Bryn]

What you're saying chimes with everything I've heard so far by Haas (and what is this "total darkness" thing of his all about?) so I don't think I'm going to bother with this part of the broadcast. There must be some interesting stuff among the solo pieces though.

I have now lost a hour of my life listening to Hyena. Should have put on a Laurie Anderson CD.

[5against4]

Did anyone get to hear the Eliane Radigue ?

Yes: http://5against4.com/2016/11/22/hcmf-2016-shorts/

Or Claudia Molitor's piece for the Harry Partch instruments ?

And yes: http://5against4.com/2016/11/20/hcmf...ditti-quartet/

Both impressive pieces.

[MrGongGong]

Yes: http://5against4.com/2016/11/22/hcmf-2016-shorts/


And yes: http://5against4.com/2016/11/20/hcmf...ditti-quartet/

Both impressive pieces.

Thanks for this
most interesting indeed

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Thanks for this
most interesting indeed

Very interesting to read your very positive comments on Hyena, too - this seems to have been the general opinion of everyone who was in the hall that I've spoken to.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Oh - and a very warm welcome to the Forum, 5:4 - your excellent Blog has often been referred to here, and it will be great to have your comments here, too.

[5against4]

Many thanks - can't claim it's likely i'll have much to say on here, but you never know.