George Crumb

[dnephi]

What do you think of him?  What have you heard by him?

I've heard Makrokosmos, Black Angels, and Ancient Voices of Children.

Looking back, I noticed in Black angels a passage in Liszt's Totentanz, although they probably both have the same origin in Dies Irae. 

Makrokosmos isn't tremendously difficult, but one wonders how much is in the music. 

AVC is just the scariest thing with all of its strange sounds.

[pianistimo]

i think art mirrors life.  modern life has it's own demons (and i'm not just speaking literally) - so his art is reflecting some of the things he feels and sees around him, imo.  i really don't remember that much about him - but i have listened to ancient voices of children in music appreciation class.  very creative ideas.  not sure i'd want to listen for extended periods of time.

[shasta]

When I was a kid, I competed against and played in a lot of recitals with Andy Russo (we had the same professor) - - - Andy blossomed into a huge champion of Crumb's music.

Unfortunately, I think Andy would've gone farther in the Van Cliburn if he HADN'T performed Crumb and instead stuck to a more 'typical' repertoire.... I don't think the judges were ready to hear and appreciate Crumb at that time.  A shame, really.  As bizarre as some of Crumb's stuff is, kudos to Andy for taking risks.

[debussy symbolism]

Greetings.

Yes, I have heard some of George Crumb's music and can say that it is really exquisite and unequivocally interesting. I really think that the judges should have not dealt so harshly with the chosen repertoire including Crumb.

[prometheus]

I don't like it. I can't take it serious. I can't conprehend that his music was is a honest attempt at expressing ones self through music.

[dnephi]

I don't like it. I can't take it serious. I can't conprehend that his music was is a honest attempt at expressing ones self through music.

My initial reaction was disgust about ten times yours.  I sat through both avc and black angels in a class.  I was distirbed for days.  But now, after I've listened to Messiaen and Ligeti et al, I can actually see music in it.  And the Copland Passacaglia's just amazing, even though first hearing had me disgusted.

[anodibu]

What do you think of him?  What have you heard by him?

I've heard Makrokosmos, Black Angels, and Ancient Voices of Children.

Try to listen to Star-Child, very interesting piece. Ancient Voices of Children is not an easy piece to listen to but I adore Black Angels. Makrokosmos I like as well. I like the spiritual element in his music.

[debussy symbolism]

I remember listening to "Black Angels" in a music listening class. I remember that I was quite entralled and not at all not scared for a bit.

[dnephi]

I remember listening to "Black Angels" in a music listening class. I remember that I was quite entralled and not at all not scared for a bit.

That's good.  My teacher had the volume up really high and surround sound and the room echoed .  The sudden changes were enough to shock me, at least.

[debussy symbolism]

We didn't have the privalege of surround sound, but I can imagine the excitement. Hope to hear it again and enjoy it more though.

[dnephi]

Yea.  In Ancient Voices of Children, there's a climax with the lady screaming "KRISTO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" into an amplified piano with the pedal up and some other stuff going on that so disturbing it left me in a daze for a day lol. 

Definitely not for the weak or the casual listening, sadly :p.

[iumonito]

When I was a kid, I competed against and played in a lot of recitals with Andy Russo (we had the same professor) - - - Andy blossomed into a huge champion of Crumb's music.

Unfortunately, I think Andy would've gone farther in the Van Cliburn if he HADN'T performed Crumb and instead stuck to a more 'typical' repertoire.... I don't think the judges were ready to hear and appreciate Crumb at that time.  A shame, really.  As bizarre as some of Crumb's stuff is, kudos to Andy for taking risks.

Shasta, really?  I am a big fan of Andrew Russo.  Do you keep in touch?  This may be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

His Little Suite for Christmas at the Cliburn was, I though, the best 10 minutes during the entire competition and I think it was an enormous injustice to send to the second round all but three or four of the other contestants without him.  Vassily Primakov?  Really? Please.

However, I actually think Wanderer is what did him in.

Do you know whether he has recorded anything?  Let me know if you know he is playing in the DC area.

Cheers!