Composer Portrait: Robert Beaser

[HarpAnna]

Interesting conversation. As a harpist, I can say we frequently have the same problem: composers who imagine a sound that they have no idea how to produce, or the difficulties inherent in that production. Our world would be much more grey if we didn't have the experiments of non-harpists, esp. those who have taken time to become friends with a proficient harpist (like Britten with Ossian Ellis and Berlioz with Parish -Alvars). Perhaps Beaser and Fisk is such a pairing.

[HarpAnna]

Interesting conversation. As a harpist, we frequently have the same problem: composers who imagine a sound that they have no idea how to produce, or the difficulties inherent in that production. Our world would be much more grey if we didn't have the experiments of non-harpists, esp. those who have taken time to become friends with a proficient harpist (like Britten with Ossian Ellis and Berlioz with Parish -Alvars). Perhaps Beaser and Fisk is such a pairing.

[mrwormburn]

non-guitarists should not compose for said instrument...please so not rebut some shit about villa-lobos

[Dcomp29]

@mrwormburn Why not?

[mrwormburn]

@Dcomp29 the first ten seconds of this video attest. it's a generalization, but throughout undergrad and beyond, i've had great comp professors try and compose for me (a guitarist), but they cannot synthesize anything organic or that understands and utilizes the guitar's full potential. if i invent and instrument that you vaguely understand, do you think your arrangements for it would be anything other that fumbling??

[Dcomp29]

@mrwormburn Fair enough. I was just interested in why you said that because as a composer i've always been wary and cautious of the guitar. It's always frightened me, even though I am a proficient jazz guitarist. I've tended to stray away from it. There was no intended aggression I was just interested in why you thought not.

[mrwormburn]

@Dcomp29 none taken. btw, the only reason i replied or posted originally for all that matter, is because the people watching this video probably have a fair amount of appreciation and understanding of music/composing as an art. i am fairly good at arranging for my art (i say arranging, b/z composition is almost a dead art; so difficult), but by the same token my jazz arrangements are less than appropriate.

[theoden707]

@mrwormburn "non-guitarists should not compose...." I have to disagree entirely with this statement, and assume that you are not a classical guitarist, and are entirely unfamiliar with the repertoire. Are you familiar with the works of Rodrigo, Turina, or Benjamin Britten? How about Tedesco? These guys did not play guitar, but wrote for guitarists who helped them understand the guitar, just as Beaser is doing. What say you of this? Perhaps you'd rather hear Roland Dyens or Leo Breower?

[mrwormburn]

@theoden707 i don't know you and i can say, with full confidence, that my mastery of the guitar is beyond what you will ever experience. i am also fully aware of anyone, as well as obscure characters, who has ever written anything worthwhile for our instrument. i stand by everything i have written here. if you wish check my playing in the only video under my profile. oh yeah, and...bitch!