George Crumb and his music

He doesn't have a thread yet, but I see lots of scattered posts about him throughout the years.
I'm not sure where to start.
http://www.bruceduffie.com/crumb1.jpg

I like his philosophy a lot.

BD: Earlier we were talking about the difference between the noise of the cicadas and the noise of the airplanes — one being natural and one being man-made. Is music natural, or is music man-made?

GC: I think it’s natural, but of course it depends on a rather sophisticated technology. The piano may consist of smelted ore and wood, but it demanded advanced knowledge of physics and so forth; high tension stringing and so forth, all those things. Even the mechanism is relatively sophisticated. So it’s a mixture, really. But the actual music, apart from the instruments, should be in touch with natural things. I think probably music started that way. There are all the analogs in nature, all the voices that you hear on this summer evening, as I’m hearing now. And more than that, there’s the sense of rhythm in all of nature, a more abstract thing such as the tides and the wind; the pulse beat of the living animals. All of that is part of music, I think.

Not to be confused with the inventor of potato chips, George Crum

wiki

George Crumb (born October 24, 1929) is an American composer of contemporary classical music. He is noted as an explorer of unusual timbres, alternative forms of notation, and extended instrumental and vocal techniques. Examples include seagull effect for the cello (ex. Vox Balaenae), metallic vibrato for the piano (ex. Five Pieces for Piano), and using a mallet to play the strings of a contrabass (ex. Madrigals, Book I), among numerous others. He is not an electronic music composer, however many works call for amplification of instruments, such as Black Angels (string quartet) or Ancient Voices of Children (mixed ensemble). Crumb's music contains an intense humanism, which is reflected in his personal definition of music: "a system of proportions in the service of spiritual impulse."[1]

have always liked this recording of black angels

http://www.1000recordings.com/images/artist-c/crumb-george-223-l.jpg

Oooh, and it's on spotify too
http://open.spotify.com/album/5mGBPZX9qZnsEsIW94Kpk6

I'm enjoying Makrokosmos -- it's a little better for my current mood than the scary bug music (which generally I like, but not today)

Love this picture!!

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2010-11/57560608.jpg

http://cps-static.rovicorp.com/1/adg/cov250/dru900/u942/u94256a71oi.jpg?partner=allrovi.com

I don't really know that much George Crumb (though am interested), but I'm guessing that dvd cover isn't a 100% accurate reflection of his work.

i went to george's 80th birthday celebration/performance in philly and he did a song about his dog yoda. you haven't lived until you hear george crumb yelling YODA! YODA! YODA! over and over while banging on a cymbal that is submerged in a tub of water in a church in philadelphia.

Oh shit, let me know the next time he's 80 cos that sounds fantastic.

Seriously!

love this guy

What's your favorite?

That q is for anyone btw

i like all the makrokosmos stuff. i like a lot of the vocal stuff, but i'm not good with names other than the well-known ancient voices of children. i'm also not really familiar with the early chamber stuff or early orchestral stuff. although i know i own some of it. Star-child is pretty cool. look for that. that's maximum crumb.

Is this any good? I love that he's so into big birthday parties.
http://www.bridgerecords.com/images/covers/9095.jpg

I will rep for Makrokosmos

I could go on about Crumb for days and days, but at the moment only have time to type for a minute. He's my favorite living composer. He knows about the things that are important in life.

'Music For A Summer Evening' last year was the only time a live music performance has ever brought me to tears, so I guess that makes it my favorite by some sort of default.

Next month, both of his huge orchestral pieces (Star-Child and Echoes Of Time And The River) will be performed at one concert here in NYC. Both are extremely rare in performance. Super psyched.

I think about that quote 'a system of proportions in the service of a spiritual element' all the time. IMO it's best think of his music as a form of sonic spellcasting.

Whenever you have the time or the inclination, I would like to solicit more information.
LOVE THIS IMO it's best think of his music as a form of sonic spellcasting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnCF0HehIOs

^^ that is a must-watch btw ^^

George Crumb is Crumbelievable (warning: features EMF singing "You're Crumbelievable")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKVFdL5R1nU&feature=related

Music for a Summer Evening is so beautiful! I love the interaction of the piano and...? in "Wanderer-Fantasie"

Echoes Of Time And The River and Star-Child in one concert TONITE at carnegie. So excited. With spatial music like Echoes, there's so much you can't even hear on a CD (for ex. Xenakis' Persephassa at Central Park 3 years ago, one of the greatest musical experiences of my life; on CD, not even close).

:( wish i'd seen this thread earlier

ian no one would go with me! Should have thought of asking you!

~it was amazing~

More details pls!

I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around "You're crumbelievable"

Got Makrokosmos III: Music for a Summer's Evening LP yesterday and it's really hard to hear over the stupid noisy a/c unit :-/

This one

http://meandthemrs.com/imx/057georgecrumb2.jpg

My favorite Crumb recording!

London concert, Friday 16th Feb., roll up, roll up - http://www.rcm.ac.uk/events/listings/details/?id=1395235.

... ah, you missed yourselves, lads, a grand time was had by all.

more info please!

lol

More details pls!

― two overweight dachshunds with three eyes (La Lechera), Friday, April 20, 2012 10:43 AM (five years ago) Bookmark

Zeitgeist, for two pianos - every extended piano technique you imagine, often simultaneously!
Makrokosmos I - which was stunning.
Voice of the Whale - performed under spooky blue lighting, with the masks on, sound was perfect, whole thing was gorgeous.

Notably more women in the audience than the Stockhausen in the same venue the week enough - though I've noticed Stockhausen concerts do tend to attract a lot of a certain kind of slightly grubby, sad-seeming older man.

... the week before, not the week enough.

excellent report, thank you! i like crowd details too though most people don't include them. i like to know who shows up. especially i bothered to show up.

i would love to see some george crumb performed. seems like the recordings are a 3/4 strength facsimile of what a live performance could be.