John Tavener on Hear and Now

[ardcarp]

The latest episode:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03nc3qr

At the Manchester International Festival in July 2013, the BBC Philharmonic gave a concert of music by John Tavener, including three world premieres - some of the last music he composed before his death in November at the age of 69. In tonight's Hear and Now the concert is presented by Tom Service in conversation with Judith Weir - as an aspiring teenage composer in the early 1970s, Weir had lessons from Tavener, who lived nearby. And we'll also hear from Tavener himself, in archive interviews.

John Tavener: Love Duet from The Play of Krishna (World Premiere)
Elin Manahan Thomas (soprano),
John Mark Ainsley (tenor).

In Alium
Elin Manahan Thomas (soprano).

Mahámátar
Abida Parveen (voice),
Manchester International Festival Sacred Sounds Choir.

If Ye Love Me (World Premiere)
MIF Sacred Sounds Choir.

The Death of Ivan Ilyich (World Premiere)
Jonathan Lemalu (bass-baritone),
Steven Isserlis (cello).

BBC Philharmonic
Tecwyn Evans (conductor).

[Quarky]

Very enjoyable. Much more personable music than a lot of the stuff on Hear and Now.

He is on record as stating he found much 20th Century Music too aggressive. He certainly went in the opposite direction.

[MrGongGong]

Very enjoyable. Much more personable music than a lot of the stuff on Hear and Now.

He is on record as stating he found much 20th Century Music too aggressive. He certainly went in the opposite direction.

.” Isn’t Stockhausen part of that awful modernism that Tavener has rejected, in his search for ancient truths? “But Stockhausen was a searcher after truth, too. I know there are inane things in his music, but in his later works he was really on to something.”

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/m...interview.html)

It's important IMV not to (and i'm not suggesting that you do Oddball !) follow the usual script that says that 20th Century Music is 'angular, horrible, aggressive and discordant'....

[Serial_Apologist]

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/m...interview.html)

It's important IMV not to (and i'm not suggesting that you do Oddball !) follow the usual script that says that 20th Century Music is 'angular, horrible, aggressive and discordant'....

No, but the the 20th century was in many respects pretty angular, horrible, aggressive and discordant; musical modernism was trying authentically to reflect its reality, whilst getting some sort of purchase on it, as Elliott Carter put it more sophisticatedly, and express a complexity in its, and iin the case of Jonathan Harvey and others in tune with his worldview, nature's workings not offered by the propaganda machines. (And by that Elliott didn't mean commercial purchase).

[ardcarp]

As we're in the realm of sweeping generalisations [about 20th cent music] would anyone be so bold as to put a tag on 21st century composition...so far?

[teamsaint]

As we're in the realm of sweeping generalisations [about 20th cent music] would anyone be so bold as to put a tag on 21st century composition...so far?

Hidden?

[Beef Oven!]

No, but the the 20th century was in many respects pretty angular, horrible, aggressive and discordant; musical modernism was trying authentically to reflect its reality, whilst getting some sort of purchase on it, as Elliott Carter put it more sophisticatedly, and express a complexity in its, and iin the case of Jonathan Harvey and others in tune with his worldview, nature's workings not offered by the propaganda machines. (And by that Elliott didn't mean commercial purchase).

I spent 40 years in that century and I don't think it was as horrible, aggressive and discordant as this century. But admittedly, I've only racked up 14 years and a week in this one.

[ardcarp]

Hidden?

[Serial_Apologist]

As we're in the realm of sweeping generalisations [about 20th cent music] would anyone be so bold as to put a tag on 21st century composition...so far?

Here, there, and everywhere.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

As we're in the realm of sweeping generalisations [about 20th cent music] would anyone be so bold as to put a tag on 21st century composition...so far?

Ours.

[Beef Oven!]

would anyone be so bold as to put a tag on 21st century composition...so far?

"A welcome change from all that stuff from 200 years ago, that we've all heard a thousand times over, and can always come back to, so there's no need to panic and get really narrow-minded and silly about it."

[ardcarp]

"A welcome change from all that stuff from 200 years ago, that we've all heard a thousand times over, and can always come back to, so there's no need to panic and get really narrow-minded and silly about it."

...but a welcome change from 50 years ago?

[Quarky]

...but a welcome change from 50 years ago?

Well, yes - I'm not sure that I really know enough to make a judgment about 21st century music, but we seem to have lost the enfant terribles of 20th Century music (granted that Boulez is still alive and kicking), who have done their best or worst to explore all angles.

Ferneyhough appears to have a following, but his music is microscopic in detail, so perhaps not for a general audience.

Are we in a period of consolidation or alloying, following the fiery furnace of the 20th century?

[MrGongGong]

Well, yes - I'm not sure that I really know enough to make a judgment about 21st century music, but we seem to have lost the enfant terribles of 20th Century music (granted that Boulez is still alive and kicking), who have done their best or worse to explore all angles.

Ferneyhough appears to have a following, but his music is microscopic in detail, so perhaps not for a general audience.

Are we in a period of consolidation or alloying, following the fiery furnace of the 20th century?

we ?
Who is this 'we' of which you speak ?

[Quarky]

"We" is just a grammatical construction - perhaps more accurate in the passive voice - "is there a period of consolidation..." - but just a subjective impression.