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Home , Boulevard Solitude, Carl Nielsen, Cathy Berberian, Henri Dutilleux, Maurizio Pollini, Vagn Holmboe

The Classical Listeners' Guide

Volume 3, Number 4 A Publication of the WTUL Classical Department December 1989 The Twentieth-Centurv Classical Show... The Greatest Living ! (A Survey of Opinion) On Sunday, December 12, from 7 to 11 p.m., the Here are the results of the survey thus far: WTUL Classical Department will present a special Twen- As English speakers, many respondents suggested tieth-Century Classical Show attempting to answer the American or British . (b. question, "Who is the greatest living composer?" The 1900) is the grand old man of American composition. Few show will result from a casual survey of opinion among lovers haven't heard his ballets Billy the WTUL dj's, students, musicians, teachers, and librarians Kid, Rodeo, or Appalachian Spring, but he hasn't written in the Tulane University community-and, we hope, lis- anything major since lnscape in 1967. His most famous teners to WTUL! Although there have been as many protege (b. 1918) has written such different classical composers named as persons inter- popular ballets as Fancy Free and Facsimile, three viewed, with no two respondents agreeing, everyone splashy , and the great musical shows Can­ polled thus far asked the same question: "Can any dide and West Side Story. (b. 1908) is chief composer living today be called 'great'?" among American composers as first choice of academics, Is it too soon to judge? but his music is so over- Should we wait until the What is your opinion? Who is the greatest, whelmingly complex, with passage of time makes it leading, or simply favorite living composer for many independent me­ easier to sift the truly great you? Send your choice to the WTUL Classical lodic lines and conflicting from those who were Department, Tulane University Center, New Or- rhythms, that it is often merely talented? Certainly, leans, Louisiana, 70118_ impossible to follow, ex- the reputations of such L...-_ ___;______, cept with a score in hand. world renowned composers as , who died Two younger Americans, (b. 1936) and in the 1960's, have declined immediately after their (b. 1937) have become genuinely popular deaths. It has taken until the late 1980's for Hindemith's by writing easy-to-follow, so-called minimalist, music. star to begin to rise again in critical opinion. Or is itjustthat Glass's "greatest hits," including the operatic trilogy Ein­ we are living in an era of declining artistic accomplish- stein on the Beach, Satyragaha, and and his ment? Is there anyone living now who composes on a par Glassworks album, with their loud, driving, circular malo­ with such deceased greats as or Dmitri dies and rhythms have more in common with rock than Shostakovich, bothofwhomdied in the 1970's? In the last classical music. Reich's Tehillim for chorus and large three years alone, for example, such relatively prominent instrumental ensemble is mesmerizing and genuinely composers have died as Henk Badings (Netherlands), beautiful. Many listeners, however, regard the droning Morton Feldman (U. S. A.), (West repetitions of trendy to be a compositional Germany), Dmitri Kabalevsky (U. S. S. R.), Lars-Erik dead end. Larsson (Sweden), Vincent Persichetti (U. S. A.), and Perhaps the most prominent British composer is Henri Sauguet (). But can any one of them be (b. 1905). The New Groves Dictionary called great? (continued, p. 5)

TUESDA Y through SATURDAY: 6 to 8 A.M.

SUNDAY: 6 to 7:30 A.M.

The Twentieth Century Show, Sunday 7 to 11 P.M.

The Baroque Show, Monday 6 to 8 A.M. D • E • c • E Sunday The Sunday Evening The Monday Morning Morning Twentieth-Century Show Baroque Show with Saskia with Lester and Jennifer with John and Armand

Made possible in part by a grant from '------Evans & Co.

KiJimiJn Orlando Gibbons "Potpourri," fromthe The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagony Three pieces: "The Woods So Wild," "Mask: The Die North German Radio Chorus featuring Lotte Lenya Fairest Nymph," and "The Lord of Salisbury his Csardasfurstln Max Thurn, dir. Pavin and Galiardo" Salonorchester Colin , harpsichord and virginal

Balakrishnan The Grea~esi living Composer! Pietro Nardini : Bala­ (a survey of opinion) in E Flat major padem nom;nees ;ncludjnq Capella Academica, no. 1 Eduard Melkus, violin Nationale de Lilla August Wenzinger, director Jean-Claude Casadesus, cond ..

Various IN!ew !Re lease on CID Johann Gottlieb Naumann Selected Marches Terry Riley Quartet for Glass Harmonica, , Viola, and Customs and Finance Salome Dances for Peace Bruno Hoffman, glass harmonica Guards Band The Krenos Quartet

Charles Mouton. The Chrisimas Spacial Various Composers Lute Pieces inC minor French Christmas Music of the 13-16~ Centuries Konrad Junghanel, lute A Christmas Caotata The Boston Camerata Choruses and 'Czech Philharmonic Orchestra Joel Cohen, dir. Vaclav Zitek, . F • E • A • T • U • R • E • S

(The Greatest Living Composer!, from p. 1) tronic means, world music, great spans of space and time, of Music and Musicians devotes ten double-column and grandiose aesthetic and philosophical notions. A pages to him alone, as compared, for example, to half of good example is Licht (Light), which is so gigantic that it a column each for Glass and Reich. In four symphonies, will take a week to perform in its entirety and is being the secular oratorio A Child of Our Time, and The Midsum- released every few years in day-long installments. mer Marriage, among his five big (for which he The Italian (b. 1925) shares with writes his own ), he has revealed himself to be an Stockhausen the deployment of giant means, incorporat­ artist with a strong humanitarian bent. His newest opera ing collage and largely unintelligible lyrics. His Sinfonia, New Year premiered in Houston this October. In the late originally in four movements and using the Swingle Sing- 1960's, Peter Maxwell Davies (b. 1934) almost achieved ers and a big orchestra, came out in its definitive five­ infamy with such dramatically expressionist and gratingly movement form in a recording last year. Many of his dissonant scores as Eight Songs for a Mad King, about works were written for the wide-ranging voice of his the insanity of King George Ill, who lost the American American wife the late Cathy Berberian. The Pole Witold colonies during the Revolutionary War. His recent, mel- Lutoslawski (b. 1913) has produced a fairly small num­ low is balm to the ears by comparison. ber of mostly very colorful works but, from the earliest, has (b. 1908) is the doyen of French displayed an outstanding command of form and an acute composers. A deeply religious person ever sensitive to sense of proportion. His latest symphony, the two­ God's natural creations, he r;::::======:::;-1 movement No. 3, has al­ has introduced the use of In the last three years alone, for example, ready been recorded twice such exotic musical such relatively prominent composers have died commercially. The sources as notated bird as Henk Badings, Morton Feldman, Wolfgang Hungarian GyOrgy Ligeti song. His new opera, (b. 1923) is best known for appropriately about St. Fortner, Dmitri Kabalevsky, Lars-Erik Larsson, piecesusedinthescorefor Francis of Assisi, who was Vincent Persichett, and Henri Saugue. But can the movie 2oo 1 by Stanley said to have been able to any one of them be called great? Kubrick, who the composer converse with birds and successfully sued for dis- other animals, made quite a splash last season. The torting his music electronically. In fact, most of Ligeti's younger (b. 1925) is betterknowntodayfor works employ no electronics, but a lot of them, especially succeeding Bernstein as conductor of the New York Phil- the shimmering choral works, sound like electronic com­ and for running the vast electronic music facili- positions. ties in the Pompidou Center in than for composing. These are the favorites mentioned by those inter­ His works such as Le marteau sans maitre marked a high viewed. To them the writer would add a personal choice, point in the serial technique, in which not only the twelve (b. 1909), the leading Scandinavian tones of the chromatic scale but also rhythm, timbre, and symphonist since . Like Nielsen, Holmboe is every other aspect of a composition were all subjected to basically a neoclassicist making conscious use of the the rigorous structuring of predetermined series. This sort principles of thematic and tonal metamorphosis. Uncom­ of music displays tremendous order on the page that is promising in his integrity, Holmboe has resisted the virtually undetectable to the ear. Henri Dutilleux (b. atonal ism and ofthe 1950's and '60's, producing 1916) is opposed to dogmatism and intensive systemati- music that The New Groves declares to be of "rare zation. An isolated and independent composer, he has continuity and quality of thought." come to greater international attention only with such What is your opinion? Who is the greatest, or major, recent works as his Symphony No. 3. or just plain favorite living composer for you? WTUL German contemporaries are (b. promises to play selections by as many of them as four 1926) and (b. 1928). Henze's hours will allow. At least five days before the broadcast, prodigality of invention is relatively unusual for a com- send your choice to the WTUL Classical Department, poser since World War II. His Boulevard Solitude, Elegy Tulane University Center, New Orleans, Louisiana for Young Lovers, and have entered into 70118. the regular repertory of German opera houses. Recently ("The Greatest Living Composer!: A Survey of Opin­ he has become sidetracked in rather tiresome left-wing ion" will be the theme of the Twentieth-Century Classical political works. Stockhausen is an authentic innovator Show on Sunday, December 10.) whose music embraces vast schemes employing elec- -Lester Sullivan •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• F • E • A • T • U • R • E • S 's French Suites Among the copious compositions which constitute as well as different metrical schemes. Bach's chosen the collection of J. S. Bach's works, the six suites known system of organization emphasizes variety within unity as the French Suites provoke feelings of tranquility and and also reflects balance: he composed three of the contentment which are unmatched in other works be­ suites in the major form and the remaining three in the cause of their gentle, smooth melodies. The works, minor key. Although less academic than the English published in 1722 and originally entitled "Suites pour le Suites which preceeded both the French Suites and the Clavessin," were written for Bach's second wife Anna six Partitas that followed, it is the French which stand out Magdalena. They were later referred to as the French because of the more distinct melodies which are light and Suites because they were composed in the French gentle. manner. The work is performed by Christopher Hegwood on a The six pieces which comprise the Suites all consist harpsichord designed by Andreas Puckens and Pascal of Allemandes, Courantes, Sarabandes, Gigues, Minu­ Taskin. ets, Bourees and other traditional movements. Al­ (Johann Sebastian Bach's French Suites will be fea­ though all the suites have similar parts, each individual tured on Wednesday, December 20) movement demonstrates a distinct texture and patterning -Armand Bertin Cesar Cui's Suite Concertante for Violin and Orchestra Cesar Cui's early education began in Vilinus, Russia, ated whith the group of musicians know as the mo­ his place of birth. In addition to his general studies, he guchaya kuchka or "Mighty Handful." The members of learned and under Moniuszko received some les­ this group, all collaborators of Blakirev (Mussorgsky, sons in . Cui's mother was a Lithuanian and his Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov and Cui) were greatly influ­ father was a French army officer who chose to stay in enced by traditional Russian nationalism. They chose Russia after Napoleon's retreat in 1812. Cui's father to turn away from the current European musical trends of became a French teacher in the city. their day. Balakriev is believed to have aided in the Although Cesar Cui became a composer and critic, it orchestration of Cui's two earliest known works, his piano was not his first career. In 1851 he entered the Engineer­ . While he did compose some operas (he ing School at St. Petersburg and from 1855 to 1857 completed Dargomizhsky's The Stone Guest after the attended the Academy of Military Engineering where he composers' death), piano pieces, choral works, and some later became a professor and lecturer. He was an expert orchestral pieces, Cui is chiefly remembered for his on fortifications and wrote much on the subject. shorter works. Cui was able to further his musical interests in St. (Cesar Cui's Suite Concertante tor Violin and Petersburg after meeting Balakirev in 1856 and Dar­ Orchestra will be featured on Friday, December B) gomizhsky in 1857. Through them Cui became associ- -Paula Ouder

Best Wishes for the Holiday Season!

from the WTUL Classical Staff

Have a Safe and Happy New Year. M • B • E • R

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday with Charles with Armand with Leonard with Paula with Julia -and- New Releases with John

Paderewski Ei!1J1. in A String Quartet minor Julliard String Quartet Pro Musica Orchestra of Vienna

~ ® {/ ® ® T~.J~mann Man~u..rian PI eye/ ~ So.~t~r Concerto for 3 Trumpets "Tavern" in D Suite Concertante for English Chamber Orch. Soloists Ensemble of the SOdwestdeutsches Violin and Orchestra The Capricorn Players W. Marsalis, trumpet Bolshoi Theatre Ens. Kammerorchester Hong Kong Philharmonic Pforzheim Takaka Nishizaki, violin P. Angerer, cond.

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~® Co.pland lJElJ. Picchi O'Co.nno.r Verdi "Billy the Kid" French Suite no. 5 Harpsichord Music "Carolan's Cup" Quartet in E minor Pittsburgh Symphony Christopher Hagwood, Ton Koopman, harpsi- Joemy Wilson, dulcimer harpsichord chord

~® ~@ ~~ ~~ ~~ ChQ.pin B~~tho.v~n Kha~hatu.rian deL~Q WQ.If 12 Etudes, op. 10 Romance for Violin and Symphony no. 2 Concerto for 4 10 Short Pieces , piano Orchestra #1 Vienna Phil. Orchestra obligato, strings, and Ed ita Gruberova, Hungarian State Orch. A. Khachaturian, cond. continuo in D major soprano North German Chamber Orchestra

~® ~{/ ~® ~® ~@ SQo.hr GQ~~~~ KQ~~hlin LQ.cke Pfitzn~r Doule Quartet #1, op. 65 Sinfonia Concertante in Nouvelles Sonatinas Suite no. 5 in G minor 3 Orchestral Academy of St.-Martin- D major Franc;aises, op. 87 Amsterdam Loeki from Palestrina in-the-Fields Chamber J.-F. Paillard Chamber E. Fernandez, guitar. Stardust Quartet Berliner Philharmoniker Ensemble Orchestra Ferdinand Leitner, dir. 's Quartet in E minor In 1873 Verdi found himself suddenly idle when the symphony. Fortunately, the piece proves much better illness of his lead singer called a halt to rehearsals of his than Verdi's own treatment would suggest, and has raised current opera in . As an outlet for his frenetic up admiration in audiences, if not in its author. energy, he quickly composed his only non-vocally ori­ lronicaly, Verdi's seeming inability to appreciate the ented piece, the Quartet in E minor. success of his quartet, with its lightness and complexity He himself thought little of the work: it was nearly which challenge both instrument and ear, may be the three years after its completion before he bothered to reason the work escapes all weighty pretentiousness. By publish it. More than anyone else, Verdi emphasized how never attempting too much in his one quartet and recog­ much the piece was a departure from his usual interests. nizing his own limitations in composition, Verdi creates a When asked to judge his work, he able to respond only, "I piece of great charm. Nor is the work made awkward by don't know whether it is good or bad, only that it is a operatic hold-overs as one might expect. The first move­ quartet." And when having the piece performed, Verdi ment is derived from the primary motifs of Aida, while often employed many instruments for each part, dissatis­ Macbeth makes an appearance in the third movement, fied as he was with the ''thin" sound of an actual quartet but these echoes only serve to remind the listener how performance. One production in which did re­ radical, and successful, Verdi's departure has been. ceive his endorsement proposed no less than twenty (Giuseppe Verdi's Qua net in E Minor will be featured instruments per part, threatening to turn the quartet into a on Saturday, December 16) -Julie Houston

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