December 7, 2006
I have been meaning to post this for awhile...
When we were discussion Stockhausen, I was going to link to some version of Edgard Varese's Poeme Electronique, which remains one of my all time favorite pieces of music. In fact, if any one piece can be credited as making me want to become a music major in college, it was this one. It still haunts me, and I listen to it fairly regularly (in fact it is one that has been on regular rotation in the iPod constantly since we got the thing). The film has some interesting moments, and I imagine that these images were spectacular when projected on the Phillips Pavilion, but it is not nearly as exciting as the music itself. The other piece that was played in the Pavilion regularly was Xennakis's Concret pH, but You Tube does not have a film with that on it.
So, take eight minutes out of your day, put on some headphones and enjoy:
Posted by erik at December 7, 2006 12:28 PMDear Erik,
Given the likely possibilities of instrumentation at the time--this is fairly impressive stuff. Largely feedback from the sound of it. But nevertheless impressive
I've not encountered this before, but Varese has ever been a favorite. I really like the earilier Ionization and Density 21.5. This is very similar in tonality and in technique. And it is in this light that I find Stockhausen wanting. I don't get this sense from his music. The pieces I've heard, and I will continue to listen, sound like he met Philip Glass and John Adams early along and damped out anything of real interest.
Ah well. Perhaps this is just a matter of chacun a son gout. I'll continue to try to understand. But I'm afraid there isn't a lot of hope.
shalom,
Steven
Posted by: Steven Riddle at December 10, 2006 6:33 AM