About us not having Prokofiev's etc., today, what do you think of Salonen's or Coriglianos music? (although the latter has been around for decades..)
HI again,
I appreciate both composers, but I admit they are not on my regular listening list; I have something by Salonen in my collection, I can't remember what - he is not a spring chicken either you know. You keep mentioning Salonen almost every second sentence with overwhelming enthusiasm, and that pleases me greatly. One must be healthily obsessed with other composers' works at different periods of time. It certainly has happened to me over time, the obsession recedes to appreciation and we move to the next one. I hope this will be the same for you. We grow artistically and technically that way.
Neither these, nor any composer I'm aware of today (and most from the past to be honest - he would be in my top 20 of all time) could be anything but copyists for Prokofiev. The qualities are just so discrepant.
Mike: Thanks for the link!
Oh no, I am not at all obsessed with Salonen at all...in fact only yesterday I was listening to Mahler's 8th. I listen to the whole gamut from Mozart to present day, all the time, mostly during work. Not obsessed with any one composer,
The reason why I kept mentioning both Salonen and Corigliano, is two fold. First Ive not heard that much contemporary music and Ive only heard these and a few others.
Second, if you notice, you were the first person to actually respond to the question in my OP, which was about Salonen. There was not a single response by other posters to the music by Salonene and Corigliano so it was sort of itching me, so I kept bringing them up.
Now, I respect your opinion when you say that these two would be mere copysits for Prokofiev. While I love Prokofiev's music, I felt this was a bit too strong...but again my knowledge is limited and you may have many reasons for saying that, and which you may not be able to elaborate here.
All I can say is that I have the score for Prokofievs violin concertos and can loosely follow the structure in these masterpieces and the music is beautiful. With Salonen, I dont have the score, the music is beautiful to hear, but I cant even begin to see how one goes to writing music like that starting from music like that by Prokofiev. Going back to the OP, I was saying that I heard 'LA Variations' live. Ive heard Prokofiev's concertos too...and there is nothing in the latter that could have prepared me for LA variations. The orchestration was beyond anything Ive heard. Its hard to appreciate it the immensity if the sound unless one hears these live.
I have also heard recordings of Coriglianos Red Violin Chaconne, which is quite lyrical yet produces new textures that Id never heard in older music.
Interesting to compare the Red violin chaconne with Prokofiev's and Salonens violin concertos since they are all written for the violin and orchestra.
I somehow feel uncomfortable saying they would be mere copyists for Prokofiev, maybe apprentices would be more appropriate?
Anyways, thank you again... I still have much to learn.
Best
Anand