i dont know about this piece being genius cant tell from the recording, but black angels most certainly is, Makrokosmos(music for a summer evening), vox banale(voice of the whale), ancient voices of children, his madrigals, all amazing music. With out a doubt one of the best composers of our time, he was asked to do the music for the exorcist and turned it down....total bad ass.
In response to your criticism of Crumb: first off, Crumb's music is often incredibly lyrical; there are many moments in "Black Angels" that are as beautiful as any Schubert melody if you have the ears to pick up on that. Secondly, Crumb's use of instruments in different ways has created some of the most interesting timbres that have ever been created in classical music; this video isn't necessarily the best example of this, but when you treat Crumb as a talentless hack, I say do some research.
I think you should think twice when crticizing Crumb's music - especially if you rely on a bad recording. For me there are many things in this piece which are (at least) worth to think about their meanings ... Thanks for posting.
You're certainly right about the dangers of critising music when relying on a bad recording. I took part in a performance of Crumb's Makrokosmos III (Music for a Music Evening) at the 1987 Edinburgh Festival (broadcast by the BBC) but I was the only performer in the ensemble who had bothered to research what sounds Crumb wanted. I felt that our performance had virtually ZERO poetic value, yet the CD recording supervised by Crumb himself was beautiful.
How brilliant! ;-( Why even bother. I guess one positive function of this video is that I won't be buying the sheet music to see how it sounds. If Crumb had the talent, I think he woud make real use of the guitar rather than using it as a percussion noisemaker. There is absolutely no lyricism to this music, might as well enter the notes in finale and have it rendered in MIDI. Truly disappointing
You're just throwing out regurgitated Humanities 101 crap to sound "intelligent". You have no idea what you're talking about. Your "percussion noisemaker" remark is about as relevant as saying "my house is brick so I hate wood".
How would you know from where my assessment is coming from? I'm not familiar with HUM 101,but if my comment rings in tune with some label that was applied to Crumb in another source, maybe I read it more than a decade ago and it must've stuck--as do most things that are profoundly true. I am familiar with 20th century music theory and history (classes I took 13 years ago), so say what you want, but Mundus Canis is meandering (yet interestingly, repetitious) crap IMO. A total waste of time.
I'm 16 years old and find george crumb interesting. This piece definately is not pretty music to listen to but to insult it is wrong. I think mr.crumb is bored of sweet melodies and minor chords for creating a dark or sad sound.
George crumb's music in my opinion is to create a mood not to be lyrical in anyway I mean put on "black angels(the departure)" by him... full blast in a dark room by yourself I mean your crapping your pants! but anyway I think he's genius in a sense but that's just me! everyone has their opinions I guess it's what you look for in music.....
i dont know about this piece being genius cant tell from the recording, but black angels most certainly is, Makrokosmos(music for a summer evening), vox banale(voice of the whale), ancient voices of children, his madrigals, all amazing music. With out a doubt one of the best composers of our time, he was asked to do the music for the exorcist and turned it down....total bad ass.
mouvement715 2 years ago
In response to your criticism of Crumb: first off, Crumb's music is often incredibly lyrical; there are many moments in "Black Angels" that are as beautiful as any Schubert melody if you have the ears to pick up on that. Secondly, Crumb's use of instruments in different ways has created some of the most interesting timbres that have ever been created in classical music; this video isn't necessarily the best example of this, but when you treat Crumb as a talentless hack, I say do some research.
nkupianist 3 years ago
George would not approve of this online fighting. No sir.
jazzmaster3000 4 years ago
I think you should think twice when crticizing Crumb's music - especially if you rely on a bad recording. For me there are many things in this piece which are (at least) worth to think about their meanings ... Thanks for posting.
offlineyr 4 years ago
You're certainly right about the dangers of critising music when relying on a bad recording. I took part in a performance of Crumb's Makrokosmos III (Music for a Music Evening) at the 1987 Edinburgh Festival (broadcast by the BBC) but I was the only performer in the ensemble who had bothered to research what sounds Crumb wanted. I felt that our performance had virtually ZERO poetic value, yet the CD recording supervised by Crumb himself was beautiful.
BrucknerEnthusiast 4 years ago
How brilliant! ;-( Why even bother. I guess one positive function of this video is that I won't be buying the sheet music to see how it sounds. If Crumb had the talent, I think he woud make real use of the guitar rather than using it as a percussion noisemaker. There is absolutely no lyricism to this music, might as well enter the notes in finale and have it rendered in MIDI. Truly disappointing
UAclassico 4 years ago
You're just throwing out regurgitated Humanities 101 crap to sound "intelligent". You have no idea what you're talking about. Your "percussion noisemaker" remark is about as relevant as saying "my house is brick so I hate wood".
phenomenonnon 4 years ago
How would you know from where my assessment is coming from? I'm not familiar with HUM 101,but if my comment rings in tune with some label that was applied to Crumb in another source, maybe I read it more than a decade ago and it must've stuck--as do most things that are profoundly true. I am familiar with 20th century music theory and history (classes I took 13 years ago), so say what you want, but Mundus Canis is meandering (yet interestingly, repetitious) crap IMO. A total waste of time.
UAclassico 4 years ago
Im sorry, but you are a total idiot.
xencage 4 years ago
@UAclassico "from where my assessment is coming from." that's funny.
rhjenkins 2 years ago
I'm 16 years old and find george crumb interesting. This piece definately is not pretty music to listen to but to insult it is wrong. I think mr.crumb is bored of sweet melodies and minor chords for creating a dark or sad sound.
j2daonathan 4 years ago
George crumb's music in my opinion is to create a mood not to be lyrical in anyway I mean put on "black angels(the departure)" by him... full blast in a dark room by yourself I mean your crapping your pants! but anyway I think he's genius in a sense but that's just me! everyone has their opinions I guess it's what you look for in music.....
j2daonathan 4 years ago
Thanks so much for posting this!!!!
suramerica 4 years ago