@ThoughtsofaPerson No, I've heard quite a bit of his music, and read some of his writings as well - but I grant that I am not familiar enough with the man or his music to make the sort of sweeping and rather flippant pronouncement I made in my earlier comment. Still, it would be rather odd if a composer's personality didn't make itself felt in his work, wouldn't it?
Answer: '"the books of reference have been deliberately misled as to dates and places, I am not going to clarify that to anybody..."
What a weird thing to say - why would he want to keep his place of birth a mystery? Altogether an odd bloke who seemed to take pleasure in his oddness. Perhaps that's what is behind his music
Sorry, one part was cut in the middle, after "I've an enormous number of [large?] scores":
"That thing, that cupboard there is full of enormous scores. One work, that's the High Mass, requires a chorus of 500. Of course I know it will never be performed, it doesn't matter to me a strap! I was free to the world to write them so that's that! What happens to me after I'm gone, I can't tell. It doesn't matter to me two hoots! I don't give a damn!"
Thank you so much for your translation, I highly appreciate the effort you spent on this recording, many many thanks.
If you allow I will attach your translation with a link to your site to the video information so that it is recognized by everyone watching this video...
You're very welcome. Don't worry about the link to my site, though, I just did it because I thought it would be useful for everyone! I'm glad to see that you find it helpful :) But putting the transcription itself in the video description, as you said, would be a great idea, for the convenience of anyone who may wish to use it.
'But naturally you can't understand our point of view, you are not familiar with who the working class is.' 'No indeed' I spat at him, 'I am not. I work!' I went on: 'When your hours, if not your work, are finished, off you go gleefully boozing or whoring or both. When my work is finished, I am so [dreadfully?] exhausted that I can't sleep for nights on end. You can't understand that either, can you!'
"It's only what is called labour that others call real work. I have not found a member of what is called the working classes who has the faintest notion of the toil, physical, yes, of writing a few pages of a complex modern orchestral score, let alone hundreds of them! The [formative] years of drudgery, on top of innate ability, plus unlimited and unpaid hours of overtime at all times. One of them once said to me:
"I wouldn't cross the road. Honestly. I would never be there! I'm not going to make an expression of myself, [---] not on your life! No no [dear?]."
Michael Habermann speaks. Then:
"Popularizing the arts, bringing the arts to the people, spreading culture, as though it were [muck or?] weedkiller. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample [them] under their feet and turn again and rend you!"
"well I started writing sort of short cadences, you know, very much "à la Ravel". Well he said: 'Yes yes yes, go on!' So the next thing was a concerto! I never had a lesson in orchestration in my life, and yet people say that I've got a marvelous command of orchestration. A [musician] who once looked at a score of mine said it was a marvel. Whether it is or not I don't know, I don't care if it is or not! I've had to go on writing, you see, like this. I've an enormous number of [large?] scores
"It's no good you all trying to pump them, because the direst penalty it to reveal them. I've a [menu?] for privacy."
"My old master said to me: 'Look' he said, 'you aught to start composing'. 'What?' I said, 'I've never thought of doing that sort of thing.' [he then says his teacher, who had taken him through the regular routine of species counterpoint, 4-part, 5-part, etc, told him that he had finally gotten all that under control] So I thought "All right" [continued]
"I didn't collect it from anywhere. It grows out of me. It's part of me. I'm very much my mother's son, you know. I'm equally my father's son, he was known as the worst man of anyone in Bombay."
"The books of reference have been deliberately mislead as to dates and places. I am not going to clarify that to anybody or for any reason whatsoever. Why don't you people know the facts? Among [life] is one or two only (response continued)
I'll do my best to transcribe what he says. Square brackets are sort of guesses based on context:
"Treat me like a cat, I'll purr and I'll do what I'm asked. But of course I'd like [to be] outdoors, you see. My [--] used to say: 'In every Sicilian house there was a Mount Edna. From time to time it's got to blow up, like Mount Edna'. Now, she used to say: 'Never forget people who are nice and kind to us. And with liking glasses we never forget those who are not'". continued...
"Treat me like a cat, I'll purr and I'll do whatever I'm not. But of course I'd like to life otherwise I'll claw you see. My dear Mother used to say: 'In every true Sicilian house is aways a Mount Etna. From time to time it's got to blow up, like Mount Etna'. "
I don't know where the actual Sorabji voice recordings come from, the parts where Habermann is speaking/playing come off an interview for NPR from he recorded a couple of years ago...
the background piano music is distracting. Otherwise, this is fantastic. Thanks for posting. I have Sorabji playing his own Concerto for Solo Piano, but not an interview with him!
Thank you for uploading this fascinating set of clips!
juzzyfuzz 2 months ago
Comment removed
ThoughtsofaPerson 8 months ago
@ThoughtsofaPerson No, I've heard quite a bit of his music, and read some of his writings as well - but I grant that I am not familiar enough with the man or his music to make the sort of sweeping and rather flippant pronouncement I made in my earlier comment. Still, it would be rather odd if a composer's personality didn't make itself felt in his work, wouldn't it?
Bnjolly 8 months ago
Question: "You were born in Chingford?"
Answer: '"the books of reference have been deliberately misled as to dates and places, I am not going to clarify that to anybody..."
What a weird thing to say - why would he want to keep his place of birth a mystery? Altogether an odd bloke who seemed to take pleasure in his oddness. Perhaps that's what is behind his music
lsbrother 1 year ago 3
Does anyone know the piece the excerpt in the background, from 0:47 - 1:40, is from?
jczcameron 1 year ago
@jczcameron it's the beginning of Sorabji's Prelude from "Prelude-Interlude-Fugue"
played by Michael Habermann
Pianojunky19 1 year ago
Sorabji looks like my grandpa!
tomekkobialka 1 year ago
Michael Habermann is my father <3 love u daddy <3
jafericangirl 1 year ago
good lord, what a cock! his relentlessly hateful nature is oddly endearing though.
cursestar 1 year ago
@cursestar who????? Michael habermann?? it better not be!!
jafericangirl 1 year ago
@jafericangirl no, sorabji
cursestar 1 year ago
@cursestar he is not either,
jafericangirl 1 year ago
Sorry, one part was cut in the middle, after "I've an enormous number of [large?] scores":
"That thing, that cupboard there is full of enormous scores. One work, that's the High Mass, requires a chorus of 500. Of course I know it will never be performed, it doesn't matter to me a strap! I was free to the world to write them so that's that! What happens to me after I'm gone, I can't tell. It doesn't matter to me two hoots! I don't give a damn!"
17mathieu 2 years ago
Thank you so much for your translation, I highly appreciate the effort you spent on this recording, many many thanks.
If you allow I will attach your translation with a link to your site to the video information so that it is recognized by everyone watching this video...
Pianojunky19 2 years ago
You're very welcome. Don't worry about the link to my site, though, I just did it because I thought it would be useful for everyone! I'm glad to see that you find it helpful :) But putting the transcription itself in the video description, as you said, would be a great idea, for the convenience of anyone who may wish to use it.
17mathieu 2 years ago
'But naturally you can't understand our point of view, you are not familiar with who the working class is.' 'No indeed' I spat at him, 'I am not. I work!' I went on: 'When your hours, if not your work, are finished, off you go gleefully boozing or whoring or both. When my work is finished, I am so [dreadfully?] exhausted that I can't sleep for nights on end. You can't understand that either, can you!'
17mathieu 2 years ago
"It's only what is called labour that others call real work. I have not found a member of what is called the working classes who has the faintest notion of the toil, physical, yes, of writing a few pages of a complex modern orchestral score, let alone hundreds of them! The [formative] years of drudgery, on top of innate ability, plus unlimited and unpaid hours of overtime at all times. One of them once said to me:
17mathieu 2 years ago
"I wouldn't cross the road. Honestly. I would never be there! I'm not going to make an expression of myself, [---] not on your life! No no [dear?]."
Michael Habermann speaks. Then:
"Popularizing the arts, bringing the arts to the people, spreading culture, as though it were [muck or?] weedkiller. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample [them] under their feet and turn again and rend you!"
17mathieu 2 years ago 5
"well I started writing sort of short cadences, you know, very much "à la Ravel". Well he said: 'Yes yes yes, go on!' So the next thing was a concerto! I never had a lesson in orchestration in my life, and yet people say that I've got a marvelous command of orchestration. A [musician] who once looked at a score of mine said it was a marvel. Whether it is or not I don't know, I don't care if it is or not! I've had to go on writing, you see, like this. I've an enormous number of [large?] scores
17mathieu 2 years ago 2
"It's no good you all trying to pump them, because the direst penalty it to reveal them. I've a [menu?] for privacy."
"My old master said to me: 'Look' he said, 'you aught to start composing'. 'What?' I said, 'I've never thought of doing that sort of thing.' [he then says his teacher, who had taken him through the regular routine of species counterpoint, 4-part, 5-part, etc, told him that he had finally gotten all that under control] So I thought "All right" [continued]
17mathieu 2 years ago 2
@17mathieu he says "I've a mania for privacy"
baadshah0001 1 year ago
In response to question:
"Have I? Oh, well that's useful"
"I didn't collect it from anywhere. It grows out of me. It's part of me. I'm very much my mother's son, you know. I'm equally my father's son, he was known as the worst man of anyone in Bombay."
"The books of reference have been deliberately mislead as to dates and places. I am not going to clarify that to anybody or for any reason whatsoever. Why don't you people know the facts? Among [life] is one or two only (response continued)
17mathieu 2 years ago 2
I'll do my best to transcribe what he says. Square brackets are sort of guesses based on context:
"Treat me like a cat, I'll purr and I'll do what I'm asked. But of course I'd like [to be] outdoors, you see. My [--] used to say: 'In every Sicilian house there was a Mount Edna. From time to time it's got to blow up, like Mount Edna'. Now, she used to say: 'Never forget people who are nice and kind to us. And with liking glasses we never forget those who are not'". continued...
17mathieu 2 years ago 2
@17mathieu Here's my guess:
"Treat me like a cat, I'll purr and I'll do whatever I'm not. But of course I'd like to life otherwise I'll claw you see. My dear Mother used to say: 'In every true Sicilian house is aways a Mount Etna. From time to time it's got to blow up, like Mount Etna'. "
Zantorc 9 months ago
I don't know where the actual Sorabji voice recordings come from, the parts where Habermann is speaking/playing come off an interview for NPR from he recorded a couple of years ago...
ReturnOfTheStienway 2 years ago
symphonic variations > turkish march or any other coldplay song
lshow123 2 years ago
A valuable resource ! I hope more postings will be made of Sorabji himself playing...MAny thanks
plummlet 2 years ago
1:43, Preludio Corale from the 4th piano symphony. That piece is pretty spectacular.
KeithWhalen11 2 years ago
the background piano music is distracting. Otherwise, this is fantastic. Thanks for posting. I have Sorabji playing his own Concerto for Solo Piano, but not an interview with him!
egyptian3rdeye 2 years ago
Interesting , where do you got that recording ?
( me too I'm not a nativ speaker , i will have to take the time to understand what Sorabji saids )
Thanks !
photonwaves 2 years ago