I'm listening to a CD of Oliver Knussen conducting the music of Elliott Carter.
After two listens, I still can't parse Three Occasions for Orchestra. Much as I prefer my violin concertos to be aged several hundred years, Carter's Violin Concerto is easier to understand than the first piece since one voice is usually prominent. Still, it strikes me as a dour piece. Although presumably difficult to play, I don't get a sense of virtuosic showmanship and a result, this is not much fun. And if I want to experience Carter's compositional rigor, I prefer the clarity of his works for piano or string quartet (or even his Piano Concerto).
On the other hand, Edgard Varèse's orchestral music also strikes me as dour but yet somehow more satisfying (albeit noisier). If only he wrote a violin concerto...
No violin concertos. No symphonies. No sonatas, duos, or string quartets.
That's the wonderful thing about Varèse's music.
He reshaped musical form to fit his needs and designs.
Octandre and Hyperprism are small masterpieces in form.
Noise is important. He was the Frenchman in New York.
Posted by: richard friedman | May 22, 2006 at 11:21 PM
Oh. And I still think that Carter's Cello Sonata is the best thing he ever wrote.
Posted by: richard friedman | May 22, 2006 at 11:22 PM
Edgard Varese from 1921-1924 on Music From Other Minds Friday 11pm PT June 2 KALW 91.7 FM San Francisco.
Posted by: richard friedman | May 29, 2006 at 01:18 PM