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The Radio 3 Boards > The Music Boards > Music Through The Ages > 20th Century > The Schnittke Thread
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Author Topic: The Schnittke Thread  (Read 1419 times)
increpatio
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« on: 15:39:33, 24-07-2007 »
I have been listening to as many Schnittke symphonies as I could get my hands on as of late.  As I've mentioned elsewhere, I find his first symphony to be absolutely hilarious in its polystylism.  His second one, a mass of some sort, is quite lovely also I guess, but I didn't particularly get into it. The first movement of his third one I found to be very especially beautiful, the way he layers all the various lines with the occasional moment of cohesion; to me it comes across as a rather more serious & mature version of the first movement of his first symphony.  I have also listened to his fifth and eight symphonies, but not actively enough yet that they have made any proper impressions.

I have to say that I find his orchestral work to be far more accessible than his work for solo piano (Berman has a CD of all (I think) of his works that I've had a quick listen to, but overall not gotten too much out of YET).

I remember liking his second cello sonata when I heard it played several years ago.

I have yet to listen properly to his concerti, nor his chamber works.  Time, fellows!

Quote from: Sydney Grew on 12:15:27, 09-04-2007
Quote from: richard barrett on 01:19:06, 09-04-2007
Any thoughts on Schnittke's symphonies?
One finds no beauty in them.

One has the impression that he is making them up as he goes along, using ineffectual and ultimately unmemorable gestures from moment to moment, without any overarching plan. They are not organic wholes; hence they are unworthy candidates, really, for consideration as works of Art.

Hmmmm.  I can say that personally I do not think this statement holds up to his third symphony or, in spite of everything, his first (and probably not the second, it being a rather orderly setting).  I am not yet on intimate enough terms with the others to speak though.
« Last Edit: 15:43:58, 24-07-2007 by increpatio » Logged
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thompson1780
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« Reply #1 on: 15:54:33, 24-07-2007 »
incre,

Try this too:

http://r3ok.myforum365.com/index.php?topic=1232.0

I very much recommend the 3rd Violin Concerto and the Viola Concerto.

Tommo
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Made by Thompson & son, at the Violin & c. the West end of St. Paul's Churchyard, LONDON
increpatio
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« Reply #2 on: 15:57:21, 24-07-2007 »
Oh; I have no idea how I missed that.  (I had done a search! But maybe only on the 20th century music thread).

Thank you for those suggestions.  I will hopefully listen to them before too long and report back here with my finding Wink
« Last Edit: 00:24:58, 31-07-2007 by increpatio » Logged
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Chichivache
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« Reply #3 on: 22:39:47, 24-07-2007 »
Cop the piano quintet - one of the most shattering, soul-seeking works I have ever come across. I also have Psalms of Repentence - recommended. I haven't heard any of the symphonies tho. Nor the viola concerto. I will listen out for - but don't expect to hear. I don't think R3 likes late 20C music on on prime-time radio.
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wotthehell toujours gai archy
increpatio
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« Reply #4 on: 00:58:24, 31-07-2007 »
Well; productive hour and a bit there.  Listened to the third violin concerto; think it's one of the first v.c.'s I've listened to in a while that I've really gotten in to.  Didn't find the viola concerto to be so accessible, maybe a little to harsh to be good on first hearing.  Quintet was gorgeous.  Definitely will enjoy listening to that again some time latser on this week!
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thompson1780
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« Reply #5 on: 10:38:35, 31-07-2007 »
Strangely enough I heard the Viola Concerto on 'In tune' first - in a reduction for viola and piano.  That was really effective, and is quite a good 'in' to the orchestral version.

Agree with Gabby/Chichi about the Piano Quintet!  Haven't listened to it for a while, so I think I know what might be spinning tonight.......

Tommo
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pim_derks
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« Reply #6 on: 10:51:42, 31-07-2007 »
Quote from: thompson1780 on 10:38:35, 31-07-2007
Strangely enough I heard the Viola Concerto on 'In tune' first - in a reduction for viola and piano.  That was really effective, and is quite a good 'in' to the orchestral version.

Do you mean this reduction, Tommo?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhEhqYpmaQ8&mode=related&search=

Do you know if this version was made by Schnittke himself?
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"People hate anything well made. It gives them a guilty conscience." John Betjeman
pim_derks
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« Reply #7 on: 21:31:25, 31-07-2007 »
And don't forget his film music:

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/1457764/rk/home/rsk/hitlist

Wonderful stuff! Smiley
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"People hate anything well made. It gives them a guilty conscience." John Betjeman
pim_derks
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« Reply #8 on: 21:08:25, 02-08-2007 »
Quote from: pim_derks on 21:31:25, 31-07-2007
And don't forget his film music:

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/1457764/rk/home/rsk/hitlist

Wonderful stuff! Smiley

It's on CD Review this Saturday:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/cdreview/pip/s0ar2/

Do catch it if you can! Wink
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"People hate anything well made. It gives them a guilty conscience." John Betjeman
Poivrade
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« Reply #9 on: 23:17:54, 04-08-2007 »
I'm extremely uncomfortable with Schnittke's music. I've played plenty, sometimes in collaboration with those for whom it was written, and certainly audiences like it, but it seems to me to work like the vilest rock music in the way it seeks to manipulate an audiences' response. Rather like the deplorable Shostakovitch, in fact.
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Andy D
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« Reply #10 on: 23:33:54, 04-08-2007 »
Quote from: pim_derks on 21:08:25, 02-08-2007
Quote from: pim_derks on 21:31:25, 31-07-2007
And don't forget his film music:

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/hnum/1457764/rk/home/rsk/hitlist

Wonderful stuff! Smiley

It's on CD Review this Saturday:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/cdreview/pip/s0ar2/

Do catch it if you can! Wink
I did!

A whole unexplored area of Schnittke for me
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increpatio
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« Reply #11 on: 00:49:05, 05-08-2007 »
Quote from: Poivrade on 23:17:54, 04-08-2007
I'm extremely uncomfortable with Schnittke's music. I've played plenty, sometimes in collaboration with those for whom it was written, and certainly audiences like it, but it seems to me to work like the vilest rock music in the way it seeks to manipulate an audiences' response. Rather like the deplorable Shostakovitch, in fact.

I understand that some of his music can come across as being a bit "dramatic" in that there is some sort of playing with the listener and their expectations, but I really don't fully understand where you're coming from.  Could you give me one or two work where you find this to be especially at the fore?
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Poivrade
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« Reply #12 on: 09:20:15, 05-08-2007 »
Well, just off the top of my head, both violin and both cello sonatas, the piano quintet, all the violin concertos apart from the first( which nevertheless I find very poor) and particularly the viola concerto.
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Ron Dough
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« Reply #13 on: 09:56:10, 05-08-2007 »
Just before I get hold of the wrong end of the stick here, there are a couple of unqualified sweeping statements here which might give rise to misleading conclusions which I'd like explained in a little more depth, so that we can see exactly where you're coming from:

 "...it seems to me to work like the vilest rock music in the way it seeks to manipulate an audiences' response..."

Are we to infer from this that you consider all rock music vile, or only some? And which, in particular, would you single out as the vilest?

" Rather like the deplorable Shostakovitch, in fact."

It is accepted on this board that (as in the world in general) members have very different tastes and reactions to certain composers; however, just to wade in and dismiss any major figure with a single pejorative might be considered inflammatory or at the least seriously undermine others' faith in your standards of judgement. Applying the same sweeping generalised judgement to your posts so far, for example, I might end up believing that you have serious problems with twentieth century composers beginning with 'S'.

Best wishes.
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Poivrade
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« Reply #14 on: 10:15:28, 05-08-2007 »
My taste only, of course-my objection to the music of Shostakovich is that he endlessy recomposed the same simplistic and derivative piece, striving for what I can only call cod-profundity. His music is easy to play and rewarding, because there's no doubt that it speaks clearly to audiences, but I find the endless mawkish repetition unbearable.
 Schnittke seems to me to go out of his way to embarass, with his seeming  search for the most vulgar effect possible. It's really not very difficult to write music like this, but it's not serious(though he certainly was).
 I dislike most rock music intensely, so I'm not someone to discriminate too much here. If my views are not welcome I'll happily keep them to myself!
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