Ferneyhough quite microtonal

Well, I went to the concert at Weill tonight, and found the
Ferneyhough music quite microtonal. *Lots* of glisses and special
effects.

Quite frankly, I think the whole "complexity" thing is *very*
overrated with him. That's not what the music is about at all. It's
just a way to get into a kind of psychedelic realm that, ultimately,
is very whimsical.

It's music that really doesn't take itself all that seriously and, in
fact, Ferneyhough says he's not necessarily going for "precision" in
the interpretation, but "fidelity"... meaning, it seems, more the
*attitude...*

So the people who just look at the notes and see all the complexity
and over seriousness don't have the right take on this cat.

He has a jolly look, with beard and long hair, just like Santa Claus,
which is entirely appropriate for this season.

(More on Metatuning later...)

Joseph Pehrson

Joe,

I'm glad you enjoyed the Ferneyhough concert, microtones and all. However:

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, "Joseph Pehrson <jpehrson@r...>" <jpehrson@r...> wrote:
> So the people who just look at the notes and see all the complexity
> and over seriousness don't have the right take on this cat.

When you've seen enough of his scores, been to more than one of his concerts, and been to any of his lectures on his own music, *then* you can tell us (me) that I don't have the right take on this 'cat'.

Bear in mind he was here in SD for a number of years, and I had quite a bit of F exposure. I'll stick with my informed opinion on him, which Kyle nailed much more eloquently than I ever could.

Nonetheless, glad you had a good experience - I've heard good things about Ensemble Sospeso!

Cheers,
Jon

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Szanto <JSZANTO@A...>"

/tuning/topicId_41497.html#41498

<JSZANTO@A...> wrote:
> Joe,
>
> I'm glad you enjoyed the Ferneyhough concert, microtones and all.
However:
>
> --- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, "Joseph Pehrson <jpehrson@r...>"
<jpehrson@r...> wrote:
> > So the people who just look at the notes and see all the
complexity
> > and over seriousness don't have the right take on this cat.
>
> When you've seen enough of his scores, been to more than one of his
concerts, and been to any of his lectures on his own music, *then*
you can tell us (me) that I don't have the right take on this 'cat'.
>
> Bear in mind he was here in SD for a number of years, and I had
quite a bit of F exposure. I'll stick with my informed opinion on
him, which Kyle nailed much more eloquently than I ever could.
>
> Nonetheless, glad you had a good experience - I've heard good
things about Ensemble Sospeso!
>
> Cheers,
> Jon

***Hi Jon!

Thanks for your contribution to this thread... Well, I do admit it
seems you Californians have had a greater dose of Ferneyhough than
those of us out this way. That's a little curious, too, since he
seems far from a typical "West Coast" composer... maybe that
contributes to the friction.

I guess Kyle even said he admired some of his pieces, but I do also
agree that I can hardly remember anything right now (it's
the "morning after") except for a lot of high string glissandos... :)

Anyway, yeah, it's a "hot" group, from the organization and
performance standpoint... pretty young guys, too. I don't know how
they've managed it...

[P.S. The comments on the Ferneyhough "take" were really not at all
directed at you; I've heard *lot* of comments of late about all
this "complexity stuff..."]

best,

Joe

Joe,

--- In tuning@yahoogroups.com, "Joseph Pehrson <jpehrson@r...>" <jpehrson@r...> wrote:
> Thanks for your contribution to this thread... Well, I do admit it
> seems you Californians have had a greater dose of Ferneyhough than
> those of us out this way. That's a little curious, too, since he
> seems far from a typical "West Coast" composer... maybe that
> contributes to the friction.

Dunno, maybe. That he seems somewhat out of place is simply *where* he landed: UCSD's specialized music department frequently seems nothing more than "Darmstadt Lite" - a far cry from it's early days with Pauline Oliveros, Will Ogden, and Robert Erickson. The last 2 decades have seen the calcification of the dept into another 'modern' music emporium, led by Roger Reynolds.

> I guess Kyle even said he admired some of his pieces

There are moments. I'd never willingly revisit any of it.

> [P.S. The comments on the Ferneyhough "take" were really not at all
> directed at you; I've heard *lot* of comments of late about all
> this "complexity stuff..."]

Understood - no offence taken.

Cheers,
Jon