I just heard (on Hawaii Public Radio) a recording of John Corigliano's "Mr. Tambourine Man," a collection of seven of Bob Dylan's poems set to new music for orchestra and soprano solo. I think it was the premiere, by the Minnesota Orchestra. I hated it. Now I admit that my taste in "modern classical" music runs more to Vaughan Williams and De Falla than to Cage and Hovhaness. I guess like most folkies I'm sort of a melody geek. And it's not that I'm a hardheaded traditionalist: I love Chris Thile's new tune to Flow Gently Sweet Afton. But that at least keeps to the spirit of the original. I was initially intrigued, although a bit annoyed as well, to hear the conductor talking about how "hearing the text of the poems set to new music" really helped him appreciate the text. But I found the piece painful, and had to turn it off after about 5 minutes. It really sounded like a bad joke. I'd be interested in hearing other reactions.

Aloha,
Mark