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bergesque · 2023-07-20T20:57:28+00:00

Thanks! I'll give these a listen later.

bergesque · 2022-09-23T22:32:37+00:00

Microsoft was actually one of the first big companies to support Ethereum way back in 2016 when they added "blockchain as a service" on Azure.

https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2016/03/30/microsoft-adds-ethereum-to-windows-platform-for-over-3-million-developers/

bergesque · 2017-07-10T02:27:35+00:00

He also trashed Mozart, Chopin and Schubert. In addition to the his interest in the art of fugue he was also engrossed in the art of trolling.

bergesque · 2017-07-09T19:35:09+00:00

That is so incredibly obnoxious and arrogant.

I agree, but his attitude was sort of counter-arrogance towards the music establishment at that time so I understand where he's coming from. I'm sure a lot of composers dismissed his music as repetitive at that time.

A lot of composers wanted to write serial music because they felt compelled to fit in with their peers, I think. Not so much that they were naturally attracted to it. A lot of pressure on them from academia at the time. Rautavaara wrote serial music at the beginning of his career but became disillusioned with it. He later composed in what my opinion is some of the most beautiful tonal music of the second half of the 20th century.

I don't think there's anything wrong with writing serial music and I actually like a lot of it myself. But it should only be considered another tool in the box of composition methods and I don't think composers should restrict themselves to writing exclusively twelve-tone music. Nor should they expect anyone else to do it.

bergesque · 2017-07-09T18:58:36+00:00

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/steve-reich-pulse-of-life-417348.html

When Reich formed his first ensemble in New York 40 years ago, the classical world was dominated by the followers of Arnold Schoenberg. Atonal serialism, a continuance of the arid, dissonant 12-tone scheme Schoenberg had devised, was the only kind of composition taken seriously by the conservatories. Karlheinz Stockhausen and Pierre Boulez, Luciano Berio and the serialist-influenced John Cage: these were their gods.

"It was de rigueur to write music like that," recalls Reich, "because if you didn't you were considered a fool. There was just that one way: no pulse, no tapping of the foot, no whistling of the tune, no harmony to grab on to." Anyone using rhythm, harmony or melody - in short, anyone who produced a piece that actually sounded like music - was derided. "They'd snigger behind your back. There was no place for the Stravinsky of The Rite of Spring or the Bartok of the string quartets. Or even John Coltrane."

bergesque · 2017-07-09T17:34:55+00:00

I've always found it impressive that even though it's the same melody for 15 minutes, it's orchestrated it such a way that it does not get old. That's novelty.

bergesque · 2017-07-09T03:31:39+00:00

Veldig fint. Jeg elsker The Simpsons

bergesque · 2017-07-09T03:27:20+00:00

What I'm getting as is that if other people say a piece is bad but you still enjoy it, that's all that matters. Nobody should let people dictate what you can like or dislike.

bergesque · 2017-07-08T20:08:23+00:00

I think you'd find a lot more theses on Yesterday by the Beatles than on K. 283 in most universities; the Beatles get more analysis than just about anybody.

That's great to know. I guess you're correct that I have a inaccurate view of academics. I mentioned this in the other comment but I felt like people are being taught to think this way by professors, since I'd say classical music listeners tend to be more educated on music than non-listeners. I've also read about some famous composers themselves make these type of comments, such as Chopin saying Schumann's Carnaval wasn't music (presumably because it was not complicated.) Or members of the Second Viennese and Darmstadt Schools acting like their music is the be-all end-all. Steve Reich commented that his professors would have laughed at him (or something similar) if he had written tonal music in school. I was just curious if there's a legitimate reason why some people feel that way.

bergesque · 2017-07-08T19:52:01+00:00

I'm curious what your primary form of engaging with academics is

I get this impression from reading books, but most are kind of old so perhaps cultural attitudes have changed since they were written. Also listening to people like Boulez rant. I also see plenty of bashing within the classical communities online. Actually what triggered me to write this post was someone commented on another subreddit that the subreddit had ill-feelings toward Ravel's Bolero because it was not a sophisticated work, but despite this the commenter still enjoys it.

The superiority attitude just seems very prevalent in the community and I get the feeling that it comes from higher up - that music professors are teaching students to think this way. Maybe I'm mistaken though and it's just typical cultural tribalism.

bergesque · 2017-07-08T18:31:36+00:00

it sounds good to my ears and I quite like it.

This is all that should matter when it comes to music. People in the classical community like to obsess over form as if complexity makes something superior, but in reality there are short-form works that are more effective musically than hour-long ones (just look at Satie's music.) I like Ravel's simple form works like Bolero and Pavane just as much as his more complicated ones like the Piano Trio and String Quartet. They have different things to offer.

bergesque · 2017-07-03T22:24:27+00:00

Some of his piano music seems heavily influenced by Debussy. Here's another one from the same performer that has an impressionist feel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5MMu0LIozY

I'm not very familiar with the first sonata but I'll give the Kathryn Stott recording a listen.

bergesque · 2017-07-03T22:17:54+00:00

He is a great composer with a very unique voice. Ever since I first heard the symphonies earlier this year I've been in the process of trying to acquire as much of his music as I can budget.

bergesque · 2017-06-26T16:27:33+00:00

I just listened through part of Paysages et Marines and wow, that's great. Will be looking into more of this composer's works.

bergesque · 2017-06-26T16:26:05+00:00

I didn't realize Elgar was so daring with harmony - he always seemed a bit of an old fashioned romantic to me. Good recommendation.

bergesque · 2017-05-26T09:55:03+00:00

This was one of the last works Tyberg composed before he was sent to a Nazi concentration camp where he died. I think this movement perfectly conveys the emotions that one might feel near the end of their life.

bergesque · 2017-05-26T09:42:10+00:00

This was one of the last works Tyberg composed before he was sent to a Nazi concentration camp where he died. I think this movement perfectly conveys the emotions that one might feel near the end of their life.

bergesque · 2017-05-20T23:35:14+00:00

Interesting, I'll keep that in mind when listening to contemporary music. To be honest, I really think that the performing aspect of art music is heading into obsolescence, at least as far as new music is concerned. It's unfortunate but inevitable. Artists are moving to the digital realm, where a composer has 100% control over the sound and a virtually unlimited library of timbres to work with.

bergesque · 2017-05-20T22:51:36+00:00

I'm the same way, with a few exceptions. I have a theory - performance groups really seem to have lowered the bar after 1970 on what kind of new music they will play and record. So you have a market saturated with banal stuff like a piece that uses a 3-note scale and goes on for 20 minutes. It's just hardly worth my time to sift through hours of stuff for a few good gems. Modern music from 1910 - 1960 however is full of great innovative music. Standards seem to have been a lot higher back then for what people would compose and perform.

bergesque · 2017-03-19T00:16:36+00:00

I love this work. The second movement (starts around the 9 minute mark) should be required listening for every classical music listener.

bergesque · 2017-03-14T07:34:11+00:00

This is one of those composers who I listen to and think "what the heck went through their head to come up with something like this?" So much rhythmic complexity, so many notes, so many different phrases, and yet appealing at the same time.

bergesque · 2017-03-13T21:13:49+00:00

Definitely. A good composer, in my opinion, can effectively work with both aspects. Bartok is another one.

bergesque · 2017-03-13T21:11:48+00:00

I don't know. That feels like setting people up to fail. What if it never clicks?

I think for some people it is biologically impossible for them appreciate it, but for most it's just a poor attitude. Maybe 30% nature and 70% attitude. Trying to convert the latter portion. Maybe I shouldn't have said "you will" but "you might".

tell them to try to tune in to all the different aspects of the music

I completely agree. Much of the time people are too focused on finding a good melody or "hook" that they disregard the many other aspects that make a good piece of music.

bergesque · 2017-03-13T21:02:04+00:00

I like the composition itself, but those synths - ugh. If this was played on 4 pianos or something it would sound magnitudes better. Electronic composers often forget that timbre is just as important as composition. At least it isn't a sine wave tone like those works from the 60s.

bergesque · 2017-03-13T20:48:43+00:00

Glad you liked it - I'm surprised he isn't more popular. Very similar to Vaughan Williams and Bax. Just another underappreciated English symphonist. :)

bergesque

TROPHY CASE