Klarinet Archive - Posting 000953.txt from 1998/02

From: BCaslinger <BCaslinger@-----.com>
Subj: Re: performing Pierrot Lunaire
Date: Fri, 27 Feb 1998 11:01:26 -0500

In a message dated 98-02-26 00:32:52 EST, you ( Karen Sandene
<ksandene@-----.org> ) write:

> A performing group I am in is performing Pierrot Lunaire (Schoenberg) next
> season, but we need to fill out the rest of the program. What would be an
> interesting companion piece (or 2) to schedule with this? I'm looking for
> about 30-40 minutes of music that will gently lead the audience into the
> world of Schoenberg (a friend suggested something by George Crumb). I'm
> looking to keep to 6-8 performers.
>
> I have enjoyed the list's repertoire suggestions to other members in the
> past and hope you can help me out, too. Thanks!
>
> Karen Sandene
> Third Chair Chamber Players
> Lincoln, NE

It is not to often that I wish I lived in Nebraska. Any intelligent and
sensitive programming for a concert with Pierrot would be wonderful. But what
work could lead into it that wouldn't seem flippant by comparison? I would
think that merely to contrast the work would avoid the catharsis that can
occur from great art (too bad that seems to happen more at the theater than at
the concert hall, but I digress...).

Perhaps something by Hindemith (tonal, at least, but unconventional harmony
for the general concert-going public). I'm not so sure about Crumb as a
concert companion to Schoenberg, unless it came *after* Pierrot.

How about something like the Stravinsky "Octet," followed by Pierrot and
capped off by Crumb "Night of the four Moons" for 'cello (miked), alto flute,
banjo, percussion and soprano. I of course have no idea of the musicians you
have available for this concert, but my reasoning for this grouping is that
all the works have unusual instrumentation, the Stravinsky is the most
harmonically accessible, and the Crumb leaves one uplifted, though in a
peculiar sense, being aware of the fragile place humanity inhabits in the
universe. Crumb does this in a way that is not even *remotely* maudlin. It
is a remarkable piece, *very* moving, and I guarantee that it will have a
large part of your audience in tears at the end. (I am in tears just
recalling the performance I heard last summer, in a church on a steamy August
night.)

I have a recording of the Crumb on a CD titled "White Moon" (Nonesuch
79364-2), Dawn Upshaw is the soprano. Its a great CD, with works By Warlock,
Handel, Monteverdi, Crawford Seeger, Schwantner, Dowland, Villa-Lobos, Crumb
and Purcell, and all works (of course) prominently involve the moon.

Oh, what the classical music audience misses when it shuns the voices from our
(nearly over!!!) century

Respectfully,
Bruce