I parade my ignorance, saying "Never heard of him!". Now I have and apparently simply must go listen. These revelations are what I come to your channel most for. Thank you! 😍
When I found Crumb was a fellow West Virginian I had to seek his work out; the first piece I heard, probably about 1975 or so, was ANCIENT VOICES OF CHILDREN, which didn't work for me, and yet had something ineffable that led me to try again. The next effort was a Columbia LP featuring VOICE OF THE WHALE and NIGHT OF THE FOUR MOONS, and that one made me a fan for life. Haven't heard AMERICAN SONGBOOKS yet, though! And "Night of the Electric Insects" from BLACK ANGELS was used in Friedkin's EXORCIST!
A wonderful review that respects the genius of these compositions, the man, and the beauty of the recordings, all supervised by Crumb. I agreed with everything.
George Crumb has always been a favorite of mine. From my initial encounter via CRI's recordings of "Black Angels" and "Eleven Echoes of Autumn, 1965" I've always loved his modern but expressive style, as well as his creative use of extended timbrel techniques that often had me wondering how he got such cool sounds out of the instruments at hand. I have all of the Bridge releases to date and love them all!
Thanks David - an interesting assessment of Crumb. I only knew the Black Angels quartet (Kronos version) and although it's a tough listen ultimately very rewarding. Another composer who really surprised me (I really hadn't rated him before) was Gavin Bryars, after I heard his song cycle Adnan Songbook. The soprano Valerie Anderson recorded it for Philips and it's an astonishing work - subtle and poetic.
ps - and that Rachmaninov anecdote is hysterical! I can entirely imagine the academic horror that would have filtered through that room as Crumb so apparently nonchalantly (but entirely aware of what he was doing) cited that oh so passé yet dreadfully popular composer. (He is very fond of Bartok as well isn't he or is it Debussy?) Anyway I wish I had someone to tell that delightful anecdote to but no one I know will have even heard of Crumb!
I absolutely love Crumb's music, too, and I do think he may be the only living composer you have covered? Very sadly his daughter Ann passed away last year.
I parade my ignorance, saying "Never heard of him!". Now I have and apparently simply must go listen. These revelations are what I come to your channel most for. Thank you! 😍
I love that you covered living/contemporary composer. Please keep them coming!
When I found Crumb was a fellow West Virginian I had to seek his work out; the first piece I heard, probably about 1975 or so, was ANCIENT VOICES OF CHILDREN, which didn't work for me, and yet had something ineffable that led me to try again. The next effort was a Columbia LP featuring VOICE OF THE WHALE and NIGHT OF THE FOUR MOONS, and that one made me a fan for life. Haven't heard AMERICAN SONGBOOKS yet, though!
And "Night of the Electric Insects" from BLACK ANGELS was used in Friedkin's EXORCIST!
A wonderful review that respects the genius of these compositions, the man, and the beauty of the recordings, all supervised by Crumb. I agreed with everything.
Thank you!
George Crumb has always been a favorite of mine. From my initial encounter via CRI's recordings of "Black Angels" and "Eleven Echoes of Autumn, 1965" I've always loved his modern but expressive style, as well as his creative use of extended timbrel techniques that often had me wondering how he got such cool sounds out of the instruments at hand. I have all of the Bridge releases to date and love them all!
Thanks David - an interesting assessment of Crumb. I only knew the Black Angels quartet (Kronos version) and although it's a tough listen ultimately very rewarding. Another composer who really surprised me (I really hadn't rated him before) was Gavin Bryars, after I heard his song cycle Adnan Songbook. The soprano Valerie Anderson recorded it for Philips and it's an astonishing work - subtle and poetic.
ps - and that Rachmaninov anecdote is hysterical! I can entirely imagine the academic horror that would have filtered through that room as Crumb so apparently nonchalantly (but entirely aware of what he was doing) cited that oh so passé yet dreadfully popular composer. (He is very fond of Bartok as well isn't he or is it Debussy?) Anyway I wish I had someone to tell that delightful anecdote to but no one I know will have even heard of Crumb!
I absolutely love Crumb's music, too, and I do think he may be the only living composer you have covered? Very sadly his daughter Ann passed away last year.
Yes, he is, but that's not my fault. They tend to die pretty regularly. The death of Ann was extremely sad--she was a lovely person.
@@DavesClassicalGuide When I made the comment above I overlooked Frederic Rzewski. Apologies to you and to the Maestro.