Did you enjoy that?
After listening to the NY Philharmonic's premiere of Mark-Anthony Turnage's Scherzoid while driving home from dinner, my wife asked me if I enjoyed that piece. I stammered for a few seconds and finally answered that while I enjoyed certain details of it (which seems to me to owe a lot to Rite of Spring), I appreciated more than enjoyed the piece at this listening. I don't think that satisified her, or me for that matter.
While my heart lies with music from an earlier time (Romantic and Baroque mostly), as a trained musician, I appreciate a lot about contemporary pieces. I listen with a musician's ear and appreciate the niceties of form, of color and technique that make up a piece. But do I really enjoy them?
The answer is yes, but the way that I listen and appreciate a piece might be different. I don't think that I can grasp the full measure of a new piece listening on a car radio while managing traffic on the Garden State Parkway. For me it takes close attention, using all of the listening and technical tools that I have gained over the years. It might require several repetitions for me to get the gist of a piece, but ultimately, depending of course on the quality of the piece, its sway will take hold of me and perhaps in spite of myself and my romantic roots, I do enjoy it. I plan to give Turnage's piece at least another listen when it is available on the NY Philharmonic Broadcast page (from Jan. 19-Feb. 2) because I do think that it has things within it that I might enjoy.
As for other recent music, I enjoy much of Ned Rorem's output (not just the songs). I enjoyed Harbison's The Great Gatsby at the Met a few seasons back and Martin David Levy's Mourning Becomes Electra, last season at New York City Opera. In college and after, I enjoyed performing new music and miss that activity now that it doesn't come my way often. Ultimately I think, while getting to know and appreciate new music might require a little work, I believe the pay-off is great.
While my heart lies with music from an earlier time (Romantic and Baroque mostly), as a trained musician, I appreciate a lot about contemporary pieces. I listen with a musician's ear and appreciate the niceties of form, of color and technique that make up a piece. But do I really enjoy them?
The answer is yes, but the way that I listen and appreciate a piece might be different. I don't think that I can grasp the full measure of a new piece listening on a car radio while managing traffic on the Garden State Parkway. For me it takes close attention, using all of the listening and technical tools that I have gained over the years. It might require several repetitions for me to get the gist of a piece, but ultimately, depending of course on the quality of the piece, its sway will take hold of me and perhaps in spite of myself and my romantic roots, I do enjoy it. I plan to give Turnage's piece at least another listen when it is available on the NY Philharmonic Broadcast page (from Jan. 19-Feb. 2) because I do think that it has things within it that I might enjoy.
As for other recent music, I enjoy much of Ned Rorem's output (not just the songs). I enjoyed Harbison's The Great Gatsby at the Met a few seasons back and Martin David Levy's Mourning Becomes Electra, last season at New York City Opera. In college and after, I enjoyed performing new music and miss that activity now that it doesn't come my way often. Ultimately I think, while getting to know and appreciate new music might require a little work, I believe the pay-off is great.
posted by Rich Russell at
8:33 AM
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