Love this ad, found through CurrentConductor's blog.
And, oh my, what an interesting discussion here about the Whitacre phenomenon! Not just the post, which is thought-provoking, but the comments as well. I'd be curious to hear from anyone who was at his Minneapolis appearance last week...what do you think? I particularly like what commenter Philip had to say about not condescending to young people. About Whitacre, I think he's written a couple of lovely pieces (had a particularly powerful experience hearing his Lux Aurumque once), but he is a bit overhyped. I'm inherently suspicious of any cultural phenomenon at the center of such a splendid marketing machine. I will be interested to see what his next chapter is as a composer.
2 comments:
See, Eric Whitacre is just transcendent for me. I have so many wonderful memories tied to his music - not because they were tied with a time period when things happened, but because they are just so wonderfully evocative (particularly "Sleep" and "When David Heard").
That and his work with Paradise Lost. I am a huge, huge fan of techno and electronica, and I am absolutely thrilled by what I've heard him do with a combination of opera and some of my favorite music in the world. I find the themes moving personally, and really hope to get to see a performance someday.
However, as a choir kid from my generation, I think Whitacre was inevitable for me, honestly. I heard "Water Night" and it was over. (I haven't gotten to perform any of his work yet, but hopefully will once I start college; I plan on majoring in voice and continuing to play the clarinet as well.) I am not equally enthusiastic about all of his work; however, I am fanatical about the pieces I do love.
Glad you liked it! I find all my stuff like that through Choralnet's Choral Blog. They are pretty much my only source for choral tidbits, because I know they'll post about very nearly everything!
I am intrigued by the Whitacre discussion too, but don't know his music well enough to dive into the fray.
Post a Comment