paul packer wrote:
On 7 Feb 2006 23:53:01 -0800, wrote:
Accessory Section 8 wrote:
Clyde Slick wrote:
snip
How many different recordings of the same old stuff do we need?
I think that was his point. Except when you go back and ask how many
truly first class recordings there really are of any given symphonic or
chamber work...and how many genuinely valid interpretations, or
archetypes of interpretations there are, there some big ozone holes in
the musosphere. And there are many great works by composers who are not
as well known which exist only in mediocre performances, or mediocre
recordings of performances. And when you ad in the interest in
_correct_ performance of early music, or indeed any music not
originally scored for bog-standard instrumentation...
I agree entirely. Awful recordings of classical music abound- there
is still some room to fill there.
I disagree with some others that "modern" classics are at fault. On
the contrary from my many years experience here on the Pacific
North-West it seems to me that local Symphony Orchestras are stuck in
the 19th. century. I do not know what anyone's definition of "atonal"
is but if it includes Bartok, Stravinski, Shostakovich, Webern, Berg
and Prokofiev than give me more of it, old as I am.
I admire your eclecticism, Ludovic, but you've made an odd list there.
Whatever the definition of atonal, Prokofiev and Shostakovitch
definitely don't fit it whereas Webern and Berg definitely do. I fear
your post clouds the issue somewhat.
Of course you're right.
In self defence I said that I was very vague about what atonal means.
Sadly I don't play I just listen.
I should have included my ex-compatriot Penderecki . Not everything bur
St. Luke's Passion to me is great music.
And something else (I'm in my graphomaniac mood tonight). In most of
Europe "high culture": (please don't scour me- I don't have a good
definition) is or was considered a national resource deserving support
like the roads or railways. BBC TV in Britain is paid for by compulsory
TV licence. This enabled its first chairman Reith to say something like
this:" I don't care what THEY like. They'.d better get used to what WE
think is good for them". Compare with the niggardly charity dispensed
to thre American PBS. And compare the respective achievements.Another
example: in prewar Warsaw there was something like 12 or more repertory
theatres all supported by the City or the State( There was also high
illiteracy but that's another story). In America in accordance with the
entrepreneurial spirit culture is thought of as lame industry .that
deserves to die if it can not pay for itself.
And now disregard these typical musings of an old man.
Canada my country now falls half=way in between as usual
Ludovic Mirabel