Comments on: Difficult listening music

By: A Blog Around The Clock

A Blog Around The Clock — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:14:50 +0000

Blogrolling for Today…

The Echinoblog Observe The Banana Ben Off to Iraq Transient Reporter Being the Chronicles of B……

By: BelaB

BelaB — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 04:33:13 +0000

It sounds as if Husa got EXACTLY the reaction he was going for. You wrote: “It did not help matters that it was being performed in a relatively small “recital hall” space and not a large concert hall which may have been better able to handle the intense sound levels.” But if anything, the small concert space probably added to the effect that the composer intended. I don’t think I would be very comfortable sitting through 28 minutes of extremely loud noises either, but it sounds as thought the piece is meant to create a sense of great discomfort. It is, after all, Husa’s reaction to humankind’s treatment of the Earth.

By: HP

HP — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:34:08 +0000

I dunno. Of all the ways for music to be bad, loud and dissonant is way down the list. Loud and boring would have to be near the top; just plain boring is not quite as bad. I would have to say that "ignorant" is a quality I hear in way too much contemporary music, whether popular or concert music, and I would rather listen to Karel Husa than loud, boring, ignorant music any day. Whaddaya think of Penderecki's Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima. or Ligeti's Sinfonia or Lux Aeterna? They're all loud and dissonant, but also skillful, interesting, and historically informed. Also, eminently listenable.

By: Lori

Lori — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:56:53 +0000

I played it with Symphonic Winds. Let me assure you it was worse to rehearse. I wore earplugs and it still managed to trigger a migraine most days, I often left early, in fact.
I didn’t like the two previous concerts we had, either.

In consolation, the concert we will put on this Sunday has a wonderful and delightful program. Including all of Pomp and Circumstance (Elgar), Incantation and Dance (James Barnes Chance), Trauermusik (Wagner), and Gloriosa (Ito).

By: UChicagoNerdette

UChicagoNerdette — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:31:21 +0000

A venturer from Pharyngula here -

I played this piece for my university’s wind ensemble last quarter. If you think listening to the upper reaches of the woodwinds for a half-hour is bad, try doing it for six weeks of rehearsal.. and being a tuba player at the same time. I had to pop a couple of Advil before each attempt.

I suppose it could be a wonderful piece under the correct conditions, but I was not a fan.

By: Pharyngula

Pharyngula — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 23:22:59 +0000

For B…

B asked me the other day to mention his dad’s blog sometime, so of course I will do so. Observe the Banana. It’s part of the tapestry here in little ol’ Morris. Aries: Look. The reason for your headaches……