A diabolic lewd caterwauling, fit to galvanically stimulate my pleasure-weary frog-legs into violent convulsions, sums up everything I look for in music. But no xylophones!
I wish I remember where I read it--maybe in a review by that notorious critic John Simon. I had thought it must be derived from somebody name Coryban in Greek mythology, but I was wrong.
Enjoyed this very much, Karl! There's nothing like reading a truly terrible review to get your engines started at the beginning of the day, as long as it's a review of someone else's work. The fact that history has judged the music good and the critics wrong adds an extra layer. I am off to hint down some diabolic lewd caterwauling.
"The grand finale was Edgard Varèse’s Intégrales. It sounded a good deal like a combination of early morning in the Mott Haven freightyards, feeding time at the zoo, and a Sixth Avenue trolley rounding a curve, an intoxicated woodpecker thrown in for good measure." -- And that's why I like Varèse!
"a xylophone, alas" poor Schoenberg, forever bearing the brunt of the break with tonalities past. He had actually suggested the term pantonality. I think might have been better marketing. But poor Joseph Matthias Hauer hardly gets any credit for developing his own independent system of dodecaphonia before Schoenberg.
And you haven't gotten to the Cage and Stockhausen reviews! (If the book made it that far!)
This was a hoot. Thanks for livening up my Friday afternoon.
Violently convulsing, pleasure weary frog legs ... I never knew Wagner was so blue ... .
I know! That image is really ridiculous
A diabolic lewd caterwauling, fit to galvanically stimulate my pleasure-weary frog-legs into violent convulsions, sums up everything I look for in music. But no xylophones!
There’s probably a name for your niche.
You are so witty 😂!!
Thank you!
Thank you more, I’m too tickled by the his piece! And I love your candor 🤣
Ah, but using "corybantic"...... I can't remember the last time I saw that in print/on a screen.
I’ve never seen it before reading this review.
I wish I remember where I read it--maybe in a review by that notorious critic John Simon. I had thought it must be derived from somebody name Coryban in Greek mythology, but I was wrong.
From what little I’ve seen of John Simon, he’s sort of a modern version of some of these critics.
I used to read him in New York Magazine and he was vicious and a show-off.
Enjoyed this very much, Karl! There's nothing like reading a truly terrible review to get your engines started at the beginning of the day, as long as it's a review of someone else's work. The fact that history has judged the music good and the critics wrong adds an extra layer. I am off to hint down some diabolic lewd caterwauling.
It’s always a good day if you can find a little diabolic lewd caterwauling.
Great stuff! Those critics would love twitter.
They would be huge stars on social media, I suspect.
Great essay, instantly one of my favorites of yours. Excellent! "...by the sort of people who deem things." I love that!
And thanks!
I’ve been carrying that smartass phrase around literally for years— looking for an opportunity to use it.
"The grand finale was Edgard Varèse’s Intégrales. It sounded a good deal like a combination of early morning in the Mott Haven freightyards, feeding time at the zoo, and a Sixth Avenue trolley rounding a curve, an intoxicated woodpecker thrown in for good measure." -- And that's why I like Varèse!
"a xylophone, alas" poor Schoenberg, forever bearing the brunt of the break with tonalities past. He had actually suggested the term pantonality. I think might have been better marketing. But poor Joseph Matthias Hauer hardly gets any credit for developing his own independent system of dodecaphonia before Schoenberg.
And you haven't gotten to the Cage and Stockhausen reviews! (If the book made it that far!)
This was a hoot. Thanks for livening up my Friday afternoon.
Re: varèse— me too. It’s funny, because a composer who actually can convey all those images is doing something I’d be proud to be able to do.
I need to listen to some Hauer.
I’m not sure the book even gets to Cage and Stockhausen, I’ll have to check.
Good thing those critics probably never went to any Portsmouth Sinfonia concerts either!
they don't make insults like they used to. these insults are awesome and remind me of a musicians "fans" who say "I liked their older stuff better"
It's a thin line between love and hate...
a musical genius once opined "it's a thin line between clever & stupid"
Man, this essay is one of your finest, Karl.
The energy and wit have got me revved up too.
Thank you so much. Revving up is good!
I went from hahaha to ohmegosh to hahaha. I can’t believe what I’ve just read.