Prom 24: MacMillan/Mahler (3.08.15)

[ahinton]

I've checked the timing of this symphony, that had been advertised as c. 25 mins, and found that it took 37 minutes and 9 seconds.

Whilst works can luxuriate in the ample acoustics of the RAH, Runnicles's performance neither sounded slow nor was it tentative / careful i.e. retarded by lack of preparation, so I suspect that MacMillan's 4th symphony will take over 30 minutes in subsequent performances.

Then I stand (or rather sit) duly corrected (and in such defence as I might need, I did say that I wasn't counting!).

That even Runnicles couldn't make the work register on my aural radar seems only to confirm my reservations about it.

[edashtav]

I was surprised that it was so long. For me, the time passed surprisingly quickly but I think that was due to the welter of notes / timbres, and my absorption in "spot the influence".

Audience reaction in the RAH was very positive. I worry that, possibly, "Sir" James MacMillan is becoming insulated from [ just?] criticism - it would be a loss to British music if his rich potential went to waste.

[Beef Oven!]

I was surprised that it was so long. For me, the time passed surprisingly quickly but I think that was due to the welter of notes / timbres, and my absorption in "spot the influence".

Audience reaction in the RAH was very positive. I worry that, possibly, "Sir" James MacMillan is becoming insulated from [ just?] criticism - it would be a loss to British music if his rich potential went to waste.

The audience went ape at its conclusion. And when Sir James walked on stage, they went even more ape and the chap standing next to me, a very metropolitan looking chap in his late thirties, started screaming "there he is, there he is". I thought John Lennon had turned up!

[Lento]

Found it a bit "busy" on first hearing, which tends to make me "switch off" rather. Made me think of Tippett in that respect, rather than Britten.

[Serial_Apologist]

his rich potential went to waste.

That's assuming he has or had any in the first place - of which I am and always was doubtful: "Isobel Gowdie" seems to have been a one-off; and even there...

[Bryn]

That's assuming he has or had any in the first place - of which I am and always was doubtful: "Isobel Gowdie" seems to have been a one-off; and even there...

Quite!

[edashtav]

That's assuming he has or had any in the first place - of which I am and always was doubtful: "Isobel Gowdie" seems to have been a one-off; and even there...

Yes, I take your point,S-A. I'm seeing Isobel & Veni,Veni in a different light, these days. What seemed a breath of fresh air now seems like the stale recycled breath from his elders and betters. The word "meretricious" seems to fit the bill.

[kernelbogey]

....several passages sounded like paraphrases of Arvo Part's Cantus In Memoriam Benjamin Britten

I thought I heard that too.

[Beef Oven!]

I bought the CDs of Isobel & Veni when they first came out and thought they were superb - I still do, but, it does feel like a long time ago now.

Having asked for a steer on British contemporary choral music, some forumites recommended MacMillan. I have quickly listened to his Miserere and although I really like it, it feels like pastiche.

I will persevere with his choral music and some of his other stuff, purely on the basis that anyone who could write music of the calibre of Isobel and Veni, must be capable of composing further good music.

[teamsaint]

The audience went ape at its conclusion. And when Sir James walked on stage, they went even more ape and the chap standing next to me, a very metropolitan looking chap in his late thirties, started screaming "there he is, there he is". I thought John Lennon had turned up!

glad you enjoyed the Mahler, Beefy. Sounds like there was a lot of monkeying around in the arena.

Imagine the state the R3 presenters would get themselves into if Lennon HAD turned up...........

[Nick Armstrong]

And when Sir James walked on stage... the chap standing next to me, a very metropolitan looking chap in his late thirties, started screaming "there he is, there he is".

[Beef Oven!]

I know! Verbatim, too!

[Flosshilde]

Interesting description of the MacMillan in the Guardian's review -

"MacMillan describes the symphony as “essentially abstract” rather than programmatic, though it also anchors itself within traditions of Scottish sacred music by paying tribute to the Renaissance polyphonist Robert Carver, whose 10-part Missa Dum Sacrum Mysterium – MacMillan sang it while a student – is liberally quoted in the score.

Lasting around 40 minutes, the symphony is effectively a single-movement variant on traditional sonata form built round a cluster of ideas heard in succession at the outset: ritualistic timpani throbs; a fanfare-like chorale; thickening string dissonances; and spiky, aggressive rhythmic figurations from woodwind and piano. Carver’s Mass is then introduced by low solo strings, and the development weaves its way through and over it, the textures alternately clotting and clearing, the mood turning increasingly tense.

Eventually serenity is achieved in a slowly unwinding cello melody accompanied by the exquisite yet eerie sound of overtones on eastern temple bowls. At this point, the emotional trajectory feels complete. But MacMillan pushes on to a big coda, complete with a series of grandiose climaxes that feel curiously forced after all that has gone before."

Did anyone pick up the Carver quotes?

(Oh, and it was a 60th birthday present to Runnicles )

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Did anyone pick up the Carver quotes?

I don't know the Carver (which I regret) but I suspect (or "reckon" ) that the bits that I thought were derivative of Panufnik and others of Part may have been involved.

(Oh, and it was a 60th birthday present to Runnicles )

Well, if he's still got the receipt, he can always take it back to the shop and exchange it for something better.

[Flosshilde]

Well, if he's still got the receipt, he can always take it back to the shop and exchange it for something better.