Prom 15: 26.07.16 - BBC Symphony Orchestra and Sir Andrew Davis

[ahinton]

Sequential treatment is where a passage is repeated, sometimes ad nauseam, with subsequent repetitions starting on a different note, often rising up the scale. It's lazy ' coz of its mechanical nature. Although the composer often thinks (s)he is cranking up tension, and the sequence may be emphasised by a gradual crescendo, in reality, the musically development is being put on hold, thus easily bored listeners e.g. EG(me) are made listless ( no not Lisztless!) and may suffer I.B.S. Elgar was found of sequential treatment.

There's nothing wrong with it in principle as a device as long as it's neither overdone nor over-literal, otherwise the nauseam / IBS might rear themselves...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

There's nothing wrong with it in principle as a device as long as it's neither overdone nor over-literal, otherwise the nauseam / IBS might rear themselves...

Indeed! Mozart was a master of the sequence.

[pureimagination]

Whatever sequential treatment is my ears and brain like it! - in many genres of music including classical and jazz (Pharaoh Sanders circa late 60's & 70's for example). I was at last nights concert and thoroughly enjoyed it - my thoughts on the Anthony Payne premiere work later.
The Tempest started things off well, similar to his Romeo & Juliet (Prom 1) in that it's a good opener for a concert. The soloist Ray Chen performed the Bruch as I'd heard it before from others but this isn't in any way a criticism. It was a great performance from soloist and orchestra and I liked the way Sir Andrew Davis let the three movements flow together - no time for clapping or clearing of throats. The rapturous applause from the Hall was well deserved. The Paganini encore was fine playing (the soloist will have had his reasons for choosing it) but not particularly memorable.
I know my comments on each work are out of synch with the concert running order but never mind. On to the Anthony Payne commission & premiere of 'Of Land, Sea and Sky' and while I didn't dislike it I won't be seeking it out again [my response to most of the Proms/BBC commissions]. I enjoyed the strings throughout this piece, felt the brass could have had more to do than occasional stabs (the same with the percussion/timpani). The choir for this piece I felt wasn't choral enough and I didn't like the half spoken elements. The BBC Symphony Chorus are a fine choir and were in fine form in the RVW which was a rousing end (a little more oomph from the organ perhaps if I'm being picky) to a very enjoyable concert.

[EdgeleyRob]

Sequential treatment is where a passage is repeated, sometimes ad nauseam, with subsequent repetitions starting on a different note, often rising up the scale. It's lazy ' coz of its mechanical nature. Although the composer often thinks (s)he is cranking up tension, and the sequence may be emphasised by a gradual crescendo, in reality, the musically development is being put on hold, thus easily bored listeners e.g. EG(me) are made listless ( no not Lisztless!) and may suffer I.B.S. Elgar was found of sequential treatment.

Thanks ed.
I like lazy mechanical music from time to time