Ear Again; H&N, Sat 1/9/18, 10:15pm

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Following last week's marvellous programme, more from last March's London Ear Festival - a concert given on 23rd in the Warehouse, London by Swiss Ensemble ö!

Andrea Damiano Cotti (b1985): Come Un’Isola, Che Sente L’Arcipelago… (world premiere)
Jonathan Harvey (1939 - 2012): Lotuses
Roland Moser (b1943): A Poem and a Scene
Asia Ahmetjanova (b1992): La Voix
Luciano Berio (1925-2003): O King
David Sontòn Caflisch (b1974): Attilas Nacht
Misato Mochizuki (b1969): Voilages

... although here the running order of the programme is different from that advertised for the event itself which gave the order Harvey, Moser, Cotti ... and then as above.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00008rm

Presented again by Robert Worby in conversation with Festival Director, Gwyn Pritchard.

[Beef Oven!]

Following last week's marvellous programme, more from last March's London Ear Festival - a concert given on 23rd in the Warehouse, London by Swiss Ensemble ö!

Andrea Damiano Cotti (b1985): Come Un’Isola, Che Sente L’Arcipelago… (world premiere)
Jonathan Harvey (1939 - 2012): Lotuses
Roland Moser (b1943): A Poem and a Scene
Asia Ahmetjanova (b1992): La Voix
Luciano Berio (1925-2003): O King
David Sontòn Caflisch (b1974): Attilas Nacht
Misato Mochizuki (b1969): Voilages

... although here the running order of the programme is different from that advertised for the event itself which gave the order Harvey, Moser, Cotti ... and then as above.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00008rm

Presented again by Robert Worby in conversation with Festival Director, Gwyn Pritchard.

I assume O King will be an earlier and therefore different version from that in Sinfonia.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I assume O King will be an earlier and therefore different version from that in Sinfonia.

-ish - the "Pierrot Ensemble" version was written at the same time (1968) as that for the Sinfonia:

https://www.universaledition.com/composers-and-works/luciano-berio-54/works/o-king-3920

[Beef Oven!]

-ish - the "Pierrot Ensemble" version was written at the same time (1968) as that for the Sinfonia:

https://www.universaledition.com/com...ks/o-king-3920

Thanks. I knew O King was written around the same time, but thought it was a bit earlier. I guess the difference is that the version in Sinfonia is the arrangement for 8 voices and orchestra (not a lot gets past me! ).

[Beef Oven!]

The Cotti was a great opener to tonight's show. Instinctively, I feel that there is more to this composition than meets the ear. One wonders if a larger ensemble and some freedom with the score might not spark some greater musical outcomes.

Jonathan Harvey has given us so much fascinating and beautiful music. The programme is only two pieces in, and there is some Berio to come, but I ask, can this piece (Lotuses) be bettered tonight?

Moser's flute piece was totally gripping, no ethereal impressionist flauting! Blowing into and around the flute, although not novel, was done so well. So far, I think I shall revisit this programme during the week on iPlayer.

In Asia Ahmetjanova's La Voix, the violin almost teases the vocal narrative, as if to acknowledge the supremacy of the monologue, but warn that it's not as easy as that.

Berio's O King - "every note matters [in this smaller version]"? So Berio chucked in loads of notes in Sinfonia that were neither ear nor there?

Tonight on Hear & Now was the first time that I've heard the chamber version of O King. I thought it was excellent and I would very much like to acquire a recording thereof. Although it may not have the same forward propulsion of the Sinfonia version, it had a certain introspection and more light and shade. I really enjoyed it.

Listening to David Sontòn Caflisch's Attilas Nacht, I'm getting Webern flavours (which is no bad thing!). I could listen to this music forever! I didn't catch who the vocalist is, but she is excellent.

Misato Mochizuki. I'm enjoying this piece even more than the Caflisch. Unorthodox harmonics (to my ears) that do not wander too far from the fundamental tone of the music. A combination of orthodox and unusual playing techniques that really work well together and never give the impression of being clever for the sake of cleverness (but the playing is nonetheless clever!).

I'd really like to get hold of a recording of this piece, ideally a download, so if anyone knows .....

In conclusion, I enjoyed this programme even more than last week's, which in turn was better than the previous week, which was very good, all the same!

Keep it coming Hear & Now


.

[Quarky]

In conclusion, I enjoyed this programme even more than last week's, which in turn was better than the previous week, which was very good, all the same!

Keep it coming Hear & Now


.

Your independent assessment of these items is appreciated - helps to focus the mind!!

[Bryn]

Your independent assessment of these items is appreciated - helps to focus the mind!!

Listening now, having carefully avoided having my ears preconditioned by reading Beefy's reviews. I will read the #5 after listening.

[Quarky]

Several sessions required for a full appreciation, almost a full week's listening. Rather like being confronted with a McDonald's quadruple burger!

But pure music- emotional overlays reduced/ unnecessary.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Another excellent programme - if the rest of the Ear Festival matched the standard of the past two weeks' programmes, then Londoners were very lucky indeed. I greatly enjoyed all the works (with some reservations about the Harvey - which is usual for me with this great composer) and hearing them all again a couple more times brought out details I'd overlooked (?"underheard"?) the first time.


(I was much less enthusiastic about the Shlomowitz piece than was Robert Warby, though.)

[Beef Oven!]

Several sessions required for a full appreciation, almost a full week's listening. Rather like being confronted with a McDonald's quadruple burger!

But pure music- emotional overlays reduced/ unnecessary.

Yes, I agree. I listened to the whole programme again earlier today and I'm enjoying it even more. I shall definitely listen to this a few more times.

Is one allowed to download a programme form the iPlaer, and if so how does one go about it?