On 24 Sep 2006 11:55:45 -0700, "Jenn"
wrote:
paul packer wrote:
On Sun, 24 Sep 2006 01:48:38 GMT, Jenn
wrote:
In article ,
(paul packer) wrote:
On Sat, 23 Sep 2006 21:21:44 GMT, Jenn
wrote:
Malcolm Arnold 1921-2006
Thought by many to be Britain's best 20th century composer.
Not by me, unfortunately. I detested his film music and wasn't much
more enamoured of his "classical" stuff. Sorry to speak ill of the
dead, but I didn't like the man's music at all.
I'm not a huge fan either. I do like Tam O'Shanter, the Dances, and
spots in the symphonies.
That's about as far as I go too. And even with the Dances I felt he
could have done more. Occasionally an interesting film Main Title,
like "The Roots Of Heaven," but more often dreary and repetitive.
In any case Britain's best 20th century composer was of course Vaughan
Williams.
I LOVE RVW, but I think of him as a 19th century composer, as indicated
by his harmonic language. Same with Holst.
Yikes! You think of RVW's 4th and 6th symphonies as 19th century in
idiom? That's very progressive 19th century.
As Mahler's first two symphonies are very progressive 19th century ;-)
Don't care for Mahler but have heard enough to know that none of his
music sounds to me as distinctly 20th century as RVW. The only work I
would own as having 19th century origins is the Sea Symphony.
Even the 8th and 9th are
quite modern, not to mention the percussive Piano Concerto. As for
Holst, surely "Mars" from "The Planets" is hardly 19th century. No,
I'm very much a 20th century tonal man, and I find RVW totally of that
century.
I see him as sort of a "bridge". I hear the songs, folksong settings,
Folk Song Suite, Linden Lea, Greensleeves Fantasia, etc. as decidedly
19th century.
Disagree. They may be pastoral in style, or folksong in origin, but
that doesn't make them 19th century. I have little interest in 19th
century music, but RVW is my favourite composer.