Herbert von Karajan, giving an unusual perspective on art musics need for serialism in 1961, couching it not in the usual terms of tonalitys demise, but as a response to the decline of melodic inspiration. Unless you bring up Barber and Menotti ca. 1961, or rather *especially* if you bring up Barber and Menotti, it is strangely difficult to argue against this accusation... Think of the Bartók Concerto for Orchestra. Twenty years ago it was considered inaccessible; today it is a classic. Think of the Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta. When we perform it today, it sounds like a concerto grosso of Handel. With the decline of melodic inspiration in music, the serial techniques of today are a necessary self-imposed discipline for the composer.
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 04:58:38 +0000