The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #75611   Message #1330694
Posted By: Ron Davies
17-Nov-04 - 10:55 PM
Thread Name: Corigliano 'classical' setting of Dylan
Subject: RE: Corigliano 'classical' setting of Dylan
Well, I suppose I really shouldn't comment, having not heard it.

But I'll have to say I'm not smitten with Corigliano. He has scads of respect in the current classical world---I think one of his pieces won a Grammy.
My choral group has sung some of his stuff.

But I just don't really want to sing (or listen to) a faithful choral reflection of the modern world's angst and misery--(i.e. no melody, little harmony, LOTS of dissonance), for instance (he's actually done this)---a vocal and instrumental depiction of the AIDS crisis.

I may be unreasonable but I'm just not always looking for "intellectual stimulation" --(seems like castor oil sometimes)-- in music. Some of the people in my group like this stuff, but then a lot seem to like minimalist music too. Sorry, repetition is not the basis of all music in my view.

I always have a huge backlog of songs I want to learn to sing or play, so I'll have to say I'm not even tempted to listen to Corigliano and the other modern classical composers--except the ones who think there is a place for melody.