mf@cornell.UUCP (05/10/84)
My musical education (formal and not) did not introduce me to
anything written this century. So hearing `Pierrot Lunaire'
(in London, at the Prom Concerts, with Boulez), was indeed a
shock in more than one way. I thought then, and still do,
that this is a most beautiful piece of music. Why, I can't say.
I have had this `love at first hearing' experience with more
contemporary pieces, such as several of Berio's works, Luc
Ferrari's `Piece pour clavecin et bande magnetique', Peter
Maxwell-Davies' `Eight Songs for a Mad King' -- they are all,
in their own particular way, exciting, breath-taking, beautiful.
I would like to mention en passant that not all of Schoenberg's
work is dodecaphonic -- this is a common misconception -- take
for instance the Gurre Lieder, anybody who can listen to late
romantic heavy music can try them without fear.
--Michel (ARPA: mf@cornell, Uucp: cornell!mf, Bitnet: CRNLCS%mf)