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Tue, 18 May 1999 09:07:11 +0200 |
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Esther Sims wrote:
>I am a student interested in the music of Schoenberg, (although this is not
>strictly in the classical period!.) What are people's views on serial music
>- does it only appeal to people who have an informed musical background,
>or can anyone listen to and appreciate it?
Well, from personal experience I incline to the latter view, although
much depends on how you define 'informed musical background'. I can just
about follow large lines when reading a score with a CD on, but have no
understanding of formal structure, interrelationships of keys etc. I just
listened to the 3rd anf 4th quartets again and was fascinated throughout.
Yet I threw aside the extensive notes and analysis in the accompanying
booklet after a few lines. Couldn't get throught it. I guess is helps
that I knew Schoenberg's gorgeous early work before I started to explore
the later 'atonal' stuff. It's just a case of wanting to explore new sound
worlds, to sit and wonder. I my case, I think it helped that I had been
exposed to classical and romantic music of increasing complexity and
variety before reaching 'atonal' and serial composers, but I have heard
of other people for whom they had immediate appeal.
Ruben
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