It is amazing how time and experience can make old "new" things "new"
again, and beautiful where before we would have found them ugly or
incomprehensible.
One of Gramaphone magazine's November picks is a Naxos recording of solo
piano music by Schoenberg, Webern, and Berg. At one time I might have
responded to this disk the way Chris has.
Today, however, this music has much to offer me because my exposure to a
greater variety of other music (classical and jazz), and my subsequent life
experiences, have prepared me for the music on this disk. Yet even here,
I "like" or "respond to" the various pieces differently.
Of course there is good and bad in all old and new. There always will be.
That means there is likely good and bad Schoenberg, Webern, and Berg. The
mature and patient ear will find these things out in its own good time.
As a personal example, take "De Materie" by Louis Andriessen (Nonesuch
79367-2 1996). I don't think I'm in a position to say, categorically,
that this music is a failure on one or on all levels (and there are
levels). But I definitely am in a position to say "I don't like it."
In our discussions about music, we need to be constantly aware of the
distinction between good judgement and personal taste. The first is an
accomplishment of time, experience, training, and ability. The second is
an unassailable fact that, when stated, leaves little room for discussion.
Jim Willford
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